Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Jeep Wrangler
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Jeep Wrangler has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 873 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V352000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V290000 Clockspring Assembly May Become Contaminated NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V176000 Air Bag Clockspring Assemblies may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13E010000 Floor Liner Tearing may Lead to Pedal Entrapment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V528000 AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V236000 PARTIAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V436000 TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING / FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E044000 AFTERMARKET MOPAR TOW BAR ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V202000 STEERING SHAFT/REAR BRAKE TUBE CLEARANCE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 309 complaints
- Electrical System 178 complaints
- Steering 156 complaints
- Suspension 108 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 71 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 69 complaints
Of the 873 complaints on file, 15 report a crash and 25 a fire; across all 873 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Jeep Wrangler has several recurring issues, notably with airbag and electrical system failures. High complaint counts for airbag problems imply potential safety risks, while frequent electrical system complaints suggest reliability concerns. Despite its off-road capability, consistently reported problems may lead to increased maintenance and repair costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 50,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| electrical system | 60,000–120,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| steering | 70,000–110,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | occasional |
| suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil change every 5,000 miles
- replace air filter annually
- inspect brakes every 10,000 miles
- change transmission fluid at 60,000 miles
- replace spark plugs at 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- airbag warning light
- intermittent electrical failures
- loose steering feel
- uneven tire wear
- brake fluid leaks
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Jeep Wrangler at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.