2018 Jeep Wrangler Electrical Problems

268 owners have reported electrical system problems with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler to NHTSA — 15% of all 1,827 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 15,000 miles. That ranks #5 of 31 Wrangler model years for electrical complaints (a typical year has 58). 3 related recalls have been issued.

268complaints
15ktypical miles
3related recalls
2crashes
6fires
1injuries

Which parts fail

  • Instrument cluster/panel
    6
  • Software
    1
  • Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
    1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    5660%
  • 25k–50k
    1516%
  • 50k–75k
    1011%
  • 75k–100k
    55%
  • 100k–150k
    78%
  • 150k+
    00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Jeep Wrangler owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the garage for 10 days. The contact stated that as he opened the garage door, he saw smoke. The contact looked around but he could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that he opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed that the fuse box and the fuse wires had burned. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The independent mechanic arrived at the contact's residence and diagnosed that the fuse box and the fuse wires had burned. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent an investigator who diagnosed the vehicle. The manufacturer sent a letter to the contact stating that based on the investigator report, no issues were found and the failure was not a manufacturer defect. …

1,000 miles · Nov 2021 · fire

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission slammed into park(P). The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the temperature gauge and fuel level gauge fluctuated. The traction control warning light activated and deactivated. The instrument cluster also activated and deactivated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with instrument cluster failure. The contact was informed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred immediately after the vehicle was purchased. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times due to the persistent failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. …

Instrument cluster/panel · 33,000 miles · Jan 2021

My vehicle defrost was on for the back defroster on my way to work as it was one of the coldest days where I live. I work for the fire department and work 48 hrs on. The second day of my shift one of my coworkers noticed the back window broken out on my jeep. Upon looking at what caused it there is burn marks where the rear defrosters touch the window. I initially called the police but they agreed the window was broken due to the rear defroster wires burning the window causing it to break out. Jeep sent out an engineer and is denying all liability. There are TONS of people reporting this on the jeep forums/blogs. I have pictures to prove the burn marks. It appears it happens so often that a jeep sales company "Quadratec" is sold out of replacement rear windows. One guy posted on the Jeep Forum it happened while he was driving 70 on an interstate. …

Jan 2024 · fire

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power, and went into LIMP Mode. The windshield wipers also disengaged. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that he restarted the vehicle after 30 minutes, and the vehicle responded as needed. The warning lights were no longer illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the computer system. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. …

87,000 miles · Jun 2023

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Jeep started on fire and is still at a tow yard in Belchertown, MA How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The Jeep started on fire while I was driving. I pulled over as the engine was smoking and then it burst into flames while I was still inside. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not that I know of. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, we gave permission for our insurance agency and Jeep to inspect the burned out vehicle. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? …

Jun 2026 · fire

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument cluster was inoperable and displayed a blank screen. During the failure, the driver was unable to view the fuel levels, engine temperature levels, and any safety warnings. The local dealer was informed of the failure, and the instrument cluster was serviced by an independent mechanic and reinstalled by the dealer. Shortly after retrieving the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000( ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 28,000.

28,000 miles · Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and making a slight left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and it was determined that the computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

100,000 miles · Aug 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel intermittently displayed the mileage, fuel gauge, and speedometer. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. Upon further investigation, the local independent mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

79,000 miles · Feb 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with her son inside the vehicle, the instrument panel went blank. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred several times. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

106,000 miles · Jul 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the ABS fuse had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired regarding the failure of the steering wheel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was not available.

Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers · 60,000 miles · Aug 2024

Related recalls

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 24V-652 · Sep 5, 2024 · 32,863 vehicles

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."

Remedy: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between October 3, 2024, and January 23, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood

NHTSA recall 18V-524 · Aug 9, 2018 · 12,779 vehicles

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018…

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 18V-332 · May 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab…

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018.

Electrical complaints in other Wrangler years

’95’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’261314585323377912202628533554868314710282815745268151182308173197421383
Electrical complaints per model year, Jeep Wrangler.

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler?

NHTSA has 268 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 15% of the model year's 1,827 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (6 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2018 Jeep Wrangler electrical problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-652 (instrument cluster/panel, Sep 5, 2024); NHTSA recall 18V-524 (front underhood, Aug 9, 2018); NHTSA recall 18V-332 (software, May 17, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Wrangler electrical problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles, and 60% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 2 crashes, 6 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.