2010 Jeep Wrangler: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 29, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · GA

I will be driving down the road and a red lighting bolt will flash on my gauges then the jeep will either lose power or shut off. I was almost hit by a semi truck due to this. Once I cycle the key goes away till the next time it happens. Also the brake assist will randomly kick on typically applying braking power to the left rear passenger tire. This is not fixed by cycling the key. Jeep has recalled newer Wranglers for these exact issues but when I contacted Jeep they said it would cost me out of pocket

Filed Mar 3, 2021 · Fuel system, Steering · 136,001 miles · WA

Rpm fluctuating rapidly, loss of power, then it starts a death wobble that is almost uncontrollable that is side to side. Will be driving down the highway and it happens everytime.

Filed Feb 5, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 50,000 miles · WV

The problem happened 3 times. Two at very low speeds during the day, and once at night at high speed. The first time it happened, I was driving the jeep and the engine stalled. It was hard to steer, but I was moving slow. I thought it was a weird fluke. I put the car in park and restarted it with no problem. The second time it my husband was driving, we had just pulled out of our neighborhood and the jeep stalled. The breaks don't work well, and the steering is difficult. He put the jeep in neutral and restarted it with no problem. The third time it happened, was on january 10, 2015. I was driving at night with my child on a long trip. I had been driving the jeep for several hours on the interstate. It happened at around 10:00 pm - it was very dark. I was in the passing lane going about 65 MPH when the engine stalled, the headlights went out, all the interior lights went out, dashboard went dark, and I knew from the previous two times, that if I applied the breaks or tried to steer, it would be very difficult. I decided that I didn't want to look down and try to find neutral and accidentally put it in a low gear. So I turned the ignition switch and everything came back on (engine, light inside and out, power steering, and power breaks) while the jeep was in drive traveling at 65 MPH. I took it to the jeep dealer to have it repaired. They told me that the trans range sensor went bad. My main concern is - why is the engine stalling and jeep losing all power while moving when the sensor goes bad? There was no warning light to let me know a sensor was bad. Are all jeeps designed with this sensor, and will all jeeps experience the same thing if their trans range sensor goes bad, or was it just something that happened with my specific vehicle?

Filed Mar 21, 2012 · Fuel system · 32,100 miles · NC · fire

On jan. 19th, 2012 my jeep wrangler unlimited rubicon edition (with auto tranny) caught on fire. Just prior to that the engine had cut off. I lost all power. My co-worker indicated that the cars coming towards us were flashing their lights and honking their horns. I looked in the rear-view mirrow to see if there was someone behind me, and saw a trail of smoke from my jeep. I had no dash warning lights indicating a problem, and according to the deputy sherriff, who was traveling towards me during the situation, the vehicle was already on fire. We drifted to the next pull off and jumped out of the vehicle, after putting it in park. I realized at that time that the vehicle was still moving forward, and had to jump back in to apply the parking brake to stop it from rolling down the street. My co-worker said that there appeared to be something on fire under the hood, and I told him not to open it, so he went for help. I proceeded to remove my work and hunting gear. I managed to get my payroll checks, deposit checks, and my tool bag out of the vehicle before it was fully involved, both inside and out. As I reached into the back to grab my tool bag, I noticed that the front passenger comparment was already fully engulfed in flames. Neither of us was hurt, except for some smoke inhalation. I am thankful that I did not have my family with me, that we were not traveling down the interstate, or that I did not make it home and park the jeep in the garage. From the time the jeep shut off until it was fully engulfed in flames was approx. 45 seconds. In talking to me "off the record" the inspector from jeep said that he believed that "due to the amount of blow-back damage the vehicle was already on fire while driving it, and that it was most likely a fuel line rupture issue. But he didn't want to formally state that until he was finished.

Filed Mar 6, 2012 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · CO

2010 jeep wrangler unlimited, vehicle pops-out of first gear during acceleration. This causes dangerous loss of power and endangers occupants. Sometimes resists being placed into first gear.

Filed Feb 16, 2011 · Transmission · 172 miles · IN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 jeep wrangler sport. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started to shake excessively and lose power abnormally with the illumination of every warning light on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they performed a diagnostic test concluding that the PCM had failed. The vehicle was repaired. On a later date while attempting to accelerate 15 MPH, the contact smelled an unusual burning or smoke odor as the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer informed the contact that the PCM failed a second time and blown a fuse. The manufacturer offered to repair the vehicle however, because the contact had only owned the vehicle for two days he wanted a replacement but the manufacturer refused. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 184 and the failure mileage was 172.

Filed Oct 2, 2010 · Transmission · 10,500 miles · GA · fire

A 2010 jeep wrangler rubicon caught on fire only 10,000 miles. We were riding down the road and the engine lost power and the RPM's went to zero. There was no check engines lights on and all the gauges were fine. We pulled over to the side and noticed the smoke coming from under the jeep and under the hood. The fire department said they thought it was caused by a over heated transmission and maybe back the fluid up to the exhaust which ignited it. They were not completely sure because the engine was melted so badly.