I was driving down the road in my 2008 wrangler and all of the sudden every light flashed on my dash board then it felt like I could not shift gears then smoke came pouring out of my air vents. I pulled over and got out realizing it was on fire. Climbed in to save my dog just before the fire got huge. My entire Jeep is gone.
2008 Jeep Wrangler: fire, smoke or burning smell
22 of the 873 complaints about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler describe fire, smoke or burning smell.
- owner complaints
- 22
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 90,000
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler equipped with Powerstop Brake Hoses, Part Number: (N/A). The contact stated that after installing the brake hoses to the rear driver’s and passenger’s side brake assemblies, there was smoke coming from the rear driver's side brake rotors while operating the vehicle due to brake fluid leaking from the hose. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24E053000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was not provided.
Engine compartment caught on fire with no warning. My family's lives were in danger. We escaped vehicle before front was engulfed in flames. Fire department had to put out fire.
On 07/16/2021 at approximately 1600 hundred the smoke detectors in the house began alarming. I immediately noticed smoke coming from the garage. After getting my 6 year old son safely out of the house I immediately called 911. The fire department arrived and took care of the situation. The entire engine compartment was burnt. Before all of this we arrived at the house and parked in the garage. Only 5 minutes went by between parking the Jeep and calling 911. During operation of the vehicle that day there was no indication of any issues. The Fire Inspector preformed his investigation. As of now I have not received the incident report. Once I do I will supply it. I am waiting to hear from the insurance company regarding when an adjuster will view the Jeep. Thank you.
Jan 24 2018. I am driving my jeep jk 2008. 103,000 miles. Stock everything. Was driving it all day in the everglades. All of a sudden as we were exiting the park my brakes stopped working and lights on the dash came on. We were going no faster than 35 MPH. All of a sudden there was smoke coming from around the car. We ope the hood there is a fire in the engine area by all of the wiring. We attempted to put it out but it quickly engulfed the entire truck and I had to stand back and watch my entire jeep burn to the ground!!!!! There was nothing to tell me this was going to happen or to warn me! Jeep needs to be responsible for this. We have burns on our arms. The car burned all the way to the ground. All of my belongings are gone from the fire
All 4 brake lines corroded. One blew and the other 3 had bulges. The vehicle was stationary. I had put my foot on the brake to put vehicle in gear. Brake pedal went to the floor and smoke came from the engine compartment. The lines were corroded directly behind where a previous recall k13 had been done to fix the fender liner issue about the liner rubbing a hole in the brake line. All 4 lines corroded in the same spot. The fender liner held moisture and allowed the lines to corrode.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 jeep wrangler. While driving on the freeway, flames could be seen under the front of the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle, it was discovered that the engine was on fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries and a report was not filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 140,000. ..updated 07/21/17 *bf the consumer stated a report was filed. The fire department assumed the gas line ruptured. The consumer was not in possession of the report. Updated 08/09/2017
I was driving down a gravel road and my jeep died. Then, I saw smoke coming from under the hood and I looked and it was on fire. The body, wheels, interior, everything burned down.
The engine compartment burst into flames after a 15 mile drive home from work. No warning, no nothing! Within ten minutes the entire engine compartment was engulfed in an out of control electrical fire. We had just purchased the vehicle from what we thought was a reputable dealer (obviously not). Had taken it back twice in 10 days and on the 13th day and after only 500 miles it decides to spontaneously combust! This is a serious issue with these vehicles and something needs to be done! If it had happened in the garage or worse just 10 minutes earlier while filling up the gas tank what would the outcome have been? This is a very serious issue and our stupid government needs to do something and quit worrying about all the political nonsense all day every day! What the heck are we paying you bureaucrats for? Nothing?
After many long road trips the engine always seems to smell slightly hot. I was assured it was just because of long distances. This past weekend after a long road trip, I parked my car in the garage, and later the engine burst into flames wrecking not only the jeep but also the house it was parked in.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 jeep wrangler. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle felt extremely hot through the console. The vehicle caught fire and became engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. It was unknown if a police and a fire report were filed. The condition of the vehicle was unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Leaving a parking lot all my electrical components began going haywire (wipers came on, wiper fluid started spraying, radio turned on and off, heat turned on and off, horn was blaring, door locks locking/unlocking at random). I removed the keys and the electrical failure continued. I began to smell burning plastic and noticed smoke/flames coming out from under the hood on the passenger side of the vehicle. After opening the engine compartment the fuse box was engulfed in flames. I was able to put the fire out with a fountain drink and a few bottles of water from bystanders. The wiring harness continued to smolder until the battery cable was removed. It is now in the shop to be repaired and will cost me 500 dollars out of pocket for my deductible. Thankfully no one was injured or killed and the vehicle wasn't a complete loss. This car also has no after market modifications.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler fire or smoke
Is fire, smoke or burning smell a common problem on the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?
22 of 873 owner complaints about the 2008 Jeep Wrangler (3%) mention fire, smoke or burning smell. The model year with the most reports is 2014.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?
There are 0 recalls and 6 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2008 Jeep Wrangler
Airbag light 202Wipers 67Won't start 30Headlights 18ABS 16Ball joint 15Adaptive cruise 12Coil spring 12Stalling 12Brake failure 10Fuel pump 8Check engine light 7Door locks 7Engine failure 7Loss of power 7Overheating 7Warning lights 7No deployment 6Fuel smell 6Jerking 5Transmission failure 5
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