Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Jeep Wrangler problems
Owners filed 217 complaints about the 1999 Jeep Wrangler with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Mar 2022. The most-cited component is electrical system (54).
Complaints
217
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system54
- Engine and engine cooling51
- Air bags22
- Structure21
- Power train20
- Visibility13
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Equipment7
- Seat belts7
- Suspension6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Tires5
- Exterior lighting4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
12
27
28
37
28
12
10
12
6
3
4
4
2
3
5
4
4
2
1
3
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 9 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 37 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
54 reports1 crash3 fires
“FUEL- JEEP HARD TO FILL WITH FUEL OR MUST FILL FUEL AT VERY SLOW RATE. NOZZLE DOES NOT LOCK OR FILL PROPERLY. (STATIONARY) ELECTRICAL- HAZARD LIGHTS(IN REAR) RANDOMLY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. (ANY MPH, CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS)”
Engine and engine cooling
51 reports2 crashes1 fire
“1999 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BEING A LEMON *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. BUT, IN FACT IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. *JB”
Air bags
22 reports4 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING AN OLD WASHED OUT AND BUMPY MOUNTAIN ROAD. DUE TO THE BUMPS, I COULD NOT GO MUCH FASTER THAN 15MPH. THE ROAD/GROUND WAS WET AND SLIPPERY SO I WAS IN 4HI. AFTER GOING DOWN THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND GOING AROUND A TURN, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. AS I TURNED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, TO GO AROUND A LARGE DOWNED TREE, IT MOMENTARILY SHUT OFF, THEN RETURNED TO ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE JEEP OFF AND CHECKED THE AIRBAG FUSES. BOTH ARE GOOD. PUZZLED AND RATHER NERVOUS THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT GO OFF IN MY FACE, I TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK TO THE MAIN ROAD. AFTER NERVOUSLY DRIVING A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, I RETURNED THE JEEP TO THE SPEED LIMIT AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE MY CRUISE CONTROL BUT, THE LIGHT WOULDN'T TURN ON. I TRIED ALL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS TO NO AVAIL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FUSEBOX AGAIN FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL FUSE BUT, I COULDN'T FIND ONE ANYWHERE. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 100 MILES HOME, I LET MY SISTER'S FIANCE, WHO'S A MECHANIC, CHECK IT WITH HIS SCAN TOOL. ACCORDING TO HIS SCAN TOOL, THE CLOCKSPRING HAS MALFUNCTIONED. AFTER DOING A FEW GOOGLE SEARCHES, IT'S APPARENT THAT THE COST TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS VERY HIGH.…”
Structure
21 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 1999 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear subframe fractured near the axle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”
Power train
20 reports4 crashes
“I HAVE A 1999 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA V.6. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY JEEP IS IN GREAT SHAPE HOWEVER I STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. I NOTICED AROUND THE APEX ON BOTH SIDES THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY. I HAD IT A NEW PIECE WELDED IN PLACE AND IT WAS WORKING GREAT. THEN I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PLATE THAT LIES BELOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUSTED FROM THE FRAME AND NOT SUPPORTING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THAT WELDED TOO. I LOOKED THE OTHER DAY AND NOTICED A HOLE BETWEEN THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL AND GOLF BALL. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO MY WELDER AND HE SAID THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF MY FRAME IS RUSTED AWAY. I WAS TOLD BY MY BODY SHOP THAT BECAUSE OF JEEPS DESIGN WATER WAS ABLE TO GET AND NOT OUT CAUSING IT TO RUST. THE BODY OF MY JEEP IS IN GREAT CONDITION AS WELL AS MY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IF NO ONCE CATCHES IT I COULD HAVE LOST MY FRONT WHEELS AND OR TRANSMISSION. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS. I'M LOOKING AT $3000.00 TO REPLACE MY FRAME. *TR”
Visibility
13 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.