Best and worst Jeep Wrangler years to buy
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
NHTSA did not answer for model year 2027, so it is missing here. For 2024 to 2026, NHTSA answered only in part, so some counts say “No answer”. The verdicts may change once NHTSA answers. Try again in a minute.
Look for 2020, 2022, 2023, the newest Worthy years. Skip 1997 and 2018. Careful with 2005 to 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021 and some older years.
Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.
From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.
The most recent judged years that came out Worthy.
Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age. A year with few sales can look the same.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the Wrangler at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model.
Tap a year to open it. Bars are owner complaints filed with NHTSA: unverified, and not adjusted for how many were sold. The three small marks by a year show how sure its verdict is: three for high, one for low. How sure is the verdict? The 2026 to 2027 models are too new to judge.
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.
0.3× a typical year
56 vs 172 typical
Most named: Body and frame
Judged years with enough more complaints than a typical year to reach Maybe or Pass.
“Do not drive” and “park outside” are NHTSA’s own warnings on a recall, until it is fixed.
Scroll the table sideways to see more.
| Year | Verdict | Owner complaints | Recalls | Top problem area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not judged | No answer | 3 | No answer |
| 2025 | Not judged | No answer | 42 park outside | No answer |
| 2024 | Not judged | No answer | 112 park outside | No answer |
| 2023 | Worthy | 374 | 143 park outside | Electrical |
| 2022 | Worthy | 412 | 153 park outside | Electrical |
| 2021 | Maybe | 958 | 153 park outside | Electrical |
| 2020 | Worthy | 618 | 121 park outside | Steering |
| 2019 | Maybe | 747 | 9 | Steering |
| 2018 | Pass | 1,827 | 14 | Steering |
| 2017 | Worthy | 312 | 5 | Brakes |
| 2016 | Worthy | 462 | 51 do not drive | Brakes |
| 2015 | Worthy | 479 | 31 do not drive | Brakes |
| 2014 | Worthy | 658 | 41 do not drive | Engine |
| 2013 | Maybe | 657 | 72 do not drive | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2012 | Maybe | 835 | 103 do not drive | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2011 | Worthy | 485 | 113 do not drive | Air bags |
| 2010 | Worthy | 686 | 113 do not drive | Fuel system |
| 2009 | Worthy | 459 | 72 do not drive | Air bags |
| 2008 | Maybe | 1,255 | 91 do not drive | Air bags |
| 2007 | Maybe | 1,059 | 101 do not drive | Fuel system |
| 2006 | Maybe | 730 | 3 | Fuel system |
| 2005 | Maybe | 650 | 2 | Fuel system |
| 2004 | Worthy | 192 | 3 | Steering |
| 2003 | Worthy | 102 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2002 | Worthy | 108 | 6 | Body and frame |
| 2001 | Worthy | 177 | 7 | Body and frame |
| 2000 | Maybe | 288 | 5 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 1999 | Worthy | 223 | 5 | Electrical |
| 1998 | Maybe | 271 | 6 | Electrical |
| 1997 | Pass | 455 | 7 | Engine |
| 1996 | Not judged | 5 | 1 | Electrical |
| 1995 | Worthy | 221 | 3 | Brakes |
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.