2012 Jeep Wrangler Traction Control Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  725%
• 25k–50k
  829%
• 50k–75k
  518%
• 75k–100k
  311%
• 100k–150k
  414%
• 150k+
  14%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the ABS, Traction Control and check engine warning lights had remained illuminated. The contact indicated that while pressing the brake pedal to stop, the brake pedal extended to the floor causing the braking distance to become extended. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V675000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Approx 4 months and 3700 miles of having my 2012 Jeep Wrangler sahara unlimited, during regular driving all dash lights came on, the warning chimes were on, all gauges dropped and continued to flash, the vehicle slowed down and the lights remained flashing and flickering for about another 20 seconds I couldn't accelerate. This has happened over 30 times since then and almost caused a serious accident on the interstate. This still continues to happen regularly and after showing them 2 videos on separate occasions dealership says they can't duplicate the problem so there is nothing they can do. Now at 47000 miles my warranty is gone and this time when it happened the check engine and airbag remained on. I don't know if the two issues are related or are separate, but now it kind of "sputters and put-puts" when its in park and won't accelerate properly. …

I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler unlimited rubicon, no modifications have been made to the vehicle. I bought it new and have had numerous problems with it from the beginning. The most recent problem has already been reported on this website by someone else. I was driving and the check engine and stability control lights both came on. Once this happens, acceleration is significantly compromised and the transmission continues to shift back and forth. I have a lifetime warranty on the vehicle and took it to the dealer. They replaced some sensors and told me it was good to go and come pick it up. Five minutes after I left the dealer both lights came back on. Took it back, they replaced some other parts and told me it was ready. Picked it up and within ten minutes both lights were back on. …

First my power windows wouldn't work while driving, I pulled off the side of the road and turned the car off and that temporarily fixed the issue (it has happen twice since). That same day I was driving on the interstate using my cruise control set at 70mph and the traction control light came on and the cruise control shut down and disabled itself while keeping the cruise control light on and not allowing me to turn off or reset the cruise control. (these lights went out the following day). A couple days later while driving, a warning of the rear drivers side turn signal being out came on (this comes and goes now almost daily). Last night while my Jeep was parked in driveway of my home the headlights and dome light started coming on randomly. …

I was involved in a single vehicle collision, with "multiple front end impacts" and significant damage to the vehicle. I was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, when the vehicle jerked to the right I hydroplaned (this is my best guess and veered to the shoulder. The street is narrow, with only a very thin shoulder. The Jeep then went off the road, drove through a deep rain-filled ditch, hit the front end of that ditch, launching the Jeep airborne. During that impact, the front axle was ripped off. I then landed in another ditch (a culvert with 2 cement walls), where the Jeep bounced twice on the cement wall, cracking the frame each time, then landed in the ditch, where I kept going until I hit a small construction pole. My Jeep had the additional side airbag package. Despite the severity of the crash, my airbags did not deploy, and my seat belt never tightened. …

The stability control system will turn on at random. When it happens, the cruise control is disabled, engine power decreased and the gas pedal rendered almost useless. I cannot safely accelerate onto a interstate freeway. When the highway goes uphill, the Jeep does not have enough power to maintain speed despite downshifting. Case in point; I was in the slow lane on a highway. I looked in my mirror and saw a semi- truck coming in my lane. I looked over to the fast lane and it was full of cars. I knew the truck will over come me and it had no option to move into the fast lane. To avoid being rear ended, I pulled the Jeep over to the shoulder. When I did that, the semi truck passed me on my left. There is a button to turn off the stability control but it does not work. Another situation; I went off road in very sandy soil. The stability control went on and engine power reduced. …

Driving down the road when suddenly all the lights started flashing, radio flashed and then the Jeep started to loose power. Pulled over, put in park and turned it off. Exterior and interior lights were flashing. Clicking noises where coming from the TIPM even with the key off. Everything was locked up once it was put in park and wouldn't unlock to tow. The only recourse was to unhook the battery and try to reset everything after waiting for about 20 seconds. I hooked the battery back and was able to drive it home. This is the second time this happened however the first time was in park and everything went haywire. Was able to restart w/o disconnecting the battery. It is getting worse. We are looking at a $1000 repair bill. We are hesitant to drive it.

Yesterday when driving my Jeep to the gas station all of the warning lights started turning on and the jeeps battery light turned on. Knowing that it could be a problem with the alternator I headed home immediately. A block from my house in the middle of an intersection the battery finally died thankfully someone was able to push me out of the intersection because it was dark out and I didn't have any lights. I had the car checked and it is the alternator. I searched online and found that there is a recall for a pentastar 3.6 l v6 alternators but I'm being told that my vehicle is not included in the recall. By specifically excluding my vehicle from the recall they have risked my safety and the safety of those around me.

Several problems occurred electronically with my Wrangler in the past 2 months. 1. Headlights turned on when I came out of the store 2. Check engine light came on (4cyl. Misfire) but cleared itself after 100 miles 3. While sitting idle at a red light, the dash warning light lit up and flickered as well as chimed for a minute. 4. While cruising on the interstate about 70mph, the Jeep shut off for a few seconds and turned back on before I was almost rear ended by the vehicle behind me.

Traction Control complaints in other Wrangler years