Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
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 after parking and turning off the vehicle, she saw smoke exiting from the hood. The contact stated she removed her two infants from the vehicle before locating the fire extinguisher she had available in the vehicle. The contact stated the fire extinguisher was broken but was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher that was provided by a school bus driver that was in the area. The fire department did arrive at the location after the fire was extinguished and filed a fire report. The contact was not aware if the police deputy at the scene filed a police report. The contact stated she burned her right middle finder while extinguishing the fire but did not seek medical attention for her injury. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. …
The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle had lost power and had shifting issues with the manual transmission. The contact noticed smoke from under the hood and tried to pull to the side of the road. While pulling to the side of the road, under the hood had caught on fire. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road safely. The automatic shift warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a scrapyard. The origin of the fire was unknown. The fire was located under the hood. The fire department had extinguished the fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police department report was not filed. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the engine seized. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway full of traffic and tractor-trailers. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in an unsafe location, in the middle of the highway. The contact exited the vehicle, trying to get to a safe area, onto the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that the grounds were icy and snowy. The contact stated that while crossing the highway on foot, trying to get to the shoulder of the road, the contact fell. The contact was transported to the local Medical Center by ambulance. The contact sustained a fractured left leg and fractured left knee. …
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated driving 30-35 MPH, the ABS warning light, the check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The odometer became inoperable. The vehicle lost power steering functionality and shifted into Accessory Mode. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while attempting to drive. Additionally, the vehicle failed to shut off as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle remained in Accessory Mode for 15 minutes and restarted independently. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken several timed to the Ford dealer where it was purchased; however, the dealer could not duplicate the failure. …
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? …
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The electronic parking brake, check engine, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact shifted to park (P) and then drive (D) and was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant had leaked into the computer and damaged the battery pack control module. The mechanic related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: Y40 (Control Module Software Updates); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was then towed to an unknown dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. The stability control, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated, and the Service Shifter message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the main battery and auxiliary battery, tested the starter and alternator, and inspected the wires and fuses; however, the failure recurred. The mechanic diagnosed that the ECM needed to be replaced and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was awaiting a tow to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate while driving uphill or downhill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the catalytic converter was replaced. After several more tests on the vehicle, it was determined that there was a leak in the engine block, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving the display screen went blank. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost power steering and was shaking. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery and sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle also failed to start. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while his son was driving approximately 30 MPH and slowing down for a traffic signal, the vehicle lunged forward, stalled, and then came to an abrupt stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the windshield wipers engaged independently. The contact's son was able to restart the vehicle and drove back to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Engine complaints in other Wrangler years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler?
NHTSA has 102 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 6% of the model year's 1,827 complaints. The component named most often is engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Wrangler engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 16,000 miles, and 60% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 8 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.