Problems · by component

1999 Jeep Wrangler engine and engine cooling problems

51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Jeep Wrangler cite engine and engine cooling, 24% of all 217 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
51
24% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2011Engine and engine coolingCrash reportedODI 10429913
“RADIATOR MADE WITH PLASTIC WHICH LEAKS AT THE TOP WHERE THE PLASTIC IS CRIMPED TO THE METAL CORE. THIS IS AN INEVITABLE PROBLEM ON ALL JEEP (CHRYSLER PRODUCTS) MADE WITH RADIATORS MANUFACTURED USING PLASTIC CAUSING LEAKAGE BEFORE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE RADIATOR IS REACHED. IN SOME CASES, COOLANT IS FLAMMABLE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE NO RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10212580
“I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAIL IN MY 99 TJ TWICE NOW. THE FACTORY ORIGINAL CRACKED AT ABOUT 39,000 MILES AND THE "NEW AND IMPROVED" OEM REPLACEMENT LASTED 11 MONTHS (OR 9,450 MILES). THIS IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE...*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10166608
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IT WOULD ACCELERATE AT ANYTIME, WHETHER IT WAS IN IDLE OR IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 8 TIMES ON AVERAGE A DAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10162252
“FOUND CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE #1 AND #2 PORTS AT AROUND 68,000 MILES, AFTER DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER JEEP OWNERS I LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 AND OTHER YEARS BACK. MY COMPLAINT IS, IF DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I AM SURE THEY ARE, WHY AREN'T THEY ADDRESSING IT. UNHAPPY WITH DEALER AND STOCK MANIFOLD, REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEADER. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10142934
“I TOOK MY JEEP TO CHUCK NASH JEEP BECAUSE OF A POPPING SOUND. THEY SAID THE EXHAUST MAINFOLD WAS CRACKED, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $750.00 TO REPLACE, I REFUSED THE REPAIR, THEY CHARGED ME $75.00 FOR THE EVALUATION.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10131622

Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1999 Wrangler problem areas