2013 Jeep Wrangler Recalls and Problems

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 654 owner complaints for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.

Recalled components: air bags, seat belts, electrical system, and steering. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (55 complaints, 8%). Most-reported area: powertrain (230 complaints, 35%; median mileage when it happened: 23,200).

Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated Oct 2, 2026

Year to avoid

6 safety recalls for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler

Do-not-drive and park-outside recalls first, then newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.

Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Equipment (Quadratec, Inc., 13E-010).

NHTSA investigations

NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2013 Jeep Wrangler; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.

A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.

What owners report

Owners have filed 654 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Wrangler. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.

Problems owners describe

• Stalling or shutting off55 · 8%
  Median 62,800 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
• Check engine light47 · 7%
  Median 65,400 miles at failure, from 36 reports with mileage
• Airbag warning light or airbag fault41 · 6%
  Median 55,000 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
• Shaking, shuddering or vibration24 · 4%
  Median 50,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
• Loss of power or limp mode21 · 3%
  Median 78,500 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
• Won't start21 · 3%
  Median 59,500 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
• Misfires or rough running19 · 3%
  Median 81,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
• Smoke or a burning smell17 · 3%
  Median 31,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage

Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these. Compare other models in the problem owners report most for every model year.

Areas named in complaints

• Powertrain230 · 35%
  Median 23,200 miles at failure, from 82 reports with mileage
• Steering167 · 26%
  Median 23,300 miles at failure, from 50 reports with mileage
• Engine140 · 21%
  Median 63,500 miles at failure, from 106 reports with mileage
• Electrical system102 · 16%
  Median 56,000 miles at failure, from 66 reports with mileage
• Air bags72 · 11%
  Most named: frontal, driver clockspring/spiral cassette (3) · Median 58,300 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
• Brakes63 · 10%
  Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
• Visibility/wiper32 · 5%
  Median 33,300 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
• Unknown or other72 · 11%
  Median 60,000 miles at failure, from 50 reports with mileage

A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.

Jeep Wrangler recalls and complaints by model year

The highlighted bars are the 2013 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Wrangler drew the most (1,152) and the 2013 drew 287.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2013 Wrangler MPG

Questions