Most common 2021 Jeep Wrangler problems
Share of the 953 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Wrangler complaints by model year
Best Wrangler years: 2017, 2015. Years to avoid: 2024, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2019. Compare all years →
2021 Jeep Wrangler recalls (15)
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4XE, and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiring and electric hydraulic power steering pump, as necessary, free of charge.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The wiring harness for the rearview camera and the center brake light may short circuit, which can disable the rearview camera image and center brake light.
Remedy: Dealers replaced the harness for the center brake light and rearview camera and/or the spare tire carrier/harness assembly, as necessary, free of charge. All vehicles were repaired by January 15, 2024.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
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.
Power train › Manual transmission › Control module › Software
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that were previously remedied under NHTSA recall number 23V-116. The software for the powertrain control module may cause an engine stall, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/HVAC system
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Jeep Wrangler and 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. A hybrid control processor (HCP) software error may cause the defrosting and defogging system to be inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HCP software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 29, 2024. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 04B.
Show 9 more recalls
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to recharge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until they are repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack software and replace the battery pack assembly…
Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023.
Structure › Frame and members
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. A stud on the frame assembly may puncture the fuel tank in a crash, which can result in a fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, remove the frame stud and apply paint, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 6, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Clutch assembly
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024.
Engine
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles equipped with 2.0L Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle engines. A loss of communication may cause an engine shutdown.
Remedy: There is more than one involved component and calibration software. Updating the calibration software in the Transmission Control Module, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor that changes fail…
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Ram 1500, Jeep Gladiator, and 2021 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The front seat belt retractors may have an improperly welded micro gas generator, which can result in seat belt pretensioner failure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors. free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Engine
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023.
Back over prevention › Display function
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, LLC's number for this recall is Z86.
Power train › Clutch assembly
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2021 Jeep Wrangler:
Loss of Motive Power
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 68 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports for model years (MY) 2021 through 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles alleging a loss of motive power. Recall 22V-865 was issued by the manufacturer to address an engine shutdown condition in certain MY 2021-2023 Wrangler 4xe vehicles.
Underhood fires
On September 6, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24024 to investigate allegations of engine compartment fires in model year 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. Most reports described fires starting on the front passenger side of the engine compartment while the vehicle was turned off, with several originating specifically at the electrohydraulic power…
High pressure fuel pump failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines.
What 2021 Jeep Wrangler owners say
Electrical system all 308 →
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a right-hand steering wheel and was used as a mail carrier vehicle. The contact stated that after parking and dropping off mail, the contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was overheating, and the battery warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal popping sound and smoke coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911, and the Fire truck arrived 10 minutes later; however, the fire had already started under the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly from the front-end to the front seats. Additionally, mail inside the vehicle were burned. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There was no injury sustained. …
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 45 MPH, the instrument panel cluster went out and the vehicle experienced a slight loss of automotive power, and the front headlights failed, the contact was then involved in a head on collision, where the front passenger side was impacted. The vehicle came to a stop upon impact. The air bags were deployed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was seated in the passenger seat while her husband was seated in the driver seat. No individuals outside of the vehicle were reported to be injured. The contact stated that her husband had sustained injuries to his knees, neck, and back, the contact has sustained injuries to their neck and shards of glass in her face. Medical treatment was needed for the injuries. …
Steering all 254 →
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a right-hand steering wheel and was used as a mail carrier vehicle. The contact stated that after parking and dropping off mail, the contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was overheating, and the battery warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal popping sound and smoke coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911, and the Fire truck arrived 10 minutes later; however, the fire had already started under the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly from the front-end to the front seats. Additionally, mail inside the vehicle were burned. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There was no injury sustained. …
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle and while inspecting the vehicle, the contact saw smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact became aware of fire underneath the vehicle. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. There were no injuries sustained. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,890.
Engine & cooling all 223 →
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway for 45 minutes, there was an abnormal odor of chimney fire, which continued while at the stop sign. The front passenger occupant noticed there was smoke from underneath the hood. While pulling over, the steering wheel locked up, and the occupants exited the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The damper had previously been replaced, but the vehicle was well-maintained. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or crash. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The police were called to the scene, but there was no police report. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000. …
The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was started, however, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact drifted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated the rear of the vehicle was filled with smoke. The contact exited the vehicle. The contact stated that within five minutes, the fire was coming from the hood compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair, which had a similar failure description, however, the contact's VIN was not associated with the unknown recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.
2021 Jeep Wrangler engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 22 / 24 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 20 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Jeep Wrangler a good car?
Based on 953 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Wrangler rates avoid: 3.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Wrangler at the same age. It is one of the Wrangler years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Wrangler?
The electrical system — 308 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about propulsion system › traction battery. Next are the steering (254) and engine & cooling (223).
How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Wrangler have?
There are 15 recalls for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler, the most recent from June 4, 2026 (pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Wrangler?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2019. See the full Jeep Wrangler years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Jeep Wrangler problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 84% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.