2018 Jeep Wrangler: start-stop system problems

Filed Mar 6, 2026 · Electrical · PA

CAN Bus is failing and giving me issues! Power steering stops working, auto stop start fails, I was taking off at an intersection and my vehicle lite up like a Christmas tree and would not shift out of first gear causing me to pull off the road at a dangerous spot.

Filed Jun 13, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · NY

The dash board stared to flash all sorts of symbols check engine light, auto start stop, sway bar disconnect unavailable, shifter problem. And then the power steering does not work, sometimes the throttle has no power, and sometimes the engine shuts off.

Filed Mar 2, 2025 · Brakes, Steering · TX

The vehicle will intermittently struggle to engage in 1st gear, the brake pedal gets hard, the auto stop start light will display on the dash and the esc light will display on the dash. Each issue may occur separately, not at all or they will all occur within 5 mins of driving the vehicle. I have been at a traffic light where the vehicle would not immediately engage in 1st gear and the vehicle behind me came within a few inches of rear ending my vehicle when I did not begin moving with the flow of traffic. I also have a similar experience with the auto stop start system failing while at a traffic light which caused the vehicle to stall in the intersection and I could not restart the vehicle without completely power cycling the ignition two times. The problems have been reproduced on multiple occasions throughout the past month. The vehicle has not been inspected by a 3rd party and the warning lights and alert messages that appeared for auto stop start system/ esc system did not appear until the problem occurred.

Filed Sep 27, 2024 · Electrical · MA

Within 1 year of getting our Wrangler we experienced issues with the instrument panel short circuit and also the rear camera stopped functioning. I brought it to the dealership and they said it would require hours to repair them and it wasn't covered under warrantee. I've now seen 2 recalls regarding these issues, Short Circuit: [XXX] : [XXX] While I intend to inquire about these and the latter recall is fairly new, i haven't received notice of either. Additionally, in 2022, far within my warranty, the aux battery that restarts the car for the stop/start function, failed to maintain a charge. The car shut off in the middle of an exit ramp on the highway. It was particularly concerning because the engine was stalling anytime I stepped on the brakes. I brought it in for service and Jeep charged me for the entire replacement of the aux battery since it wasn't under warranty. I'm not sure if this is a recurring issue but I wanted to bring it to your attention also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 11, 2024 · Electrical · MA

My 2018 Jeep JL SPORT and it's electrical issues. It looses power steering and then the light show begins. Service Electronic Throttle, Service Shifter, Service Stop-Start System, Service ESC, Auto Park Disabled, No Bus, Speed Control Messaging Unavailable Service Required, Fluctuating Gauges. I have seen on YouTube how other jeep owners have this same issued a national issued that needs to be address and fix because is very dangerous and loss control on your vehicle while driving is a horrible experience that multiple people are facing.

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

The clutch plate has failed on my 2018 Jeep Wrangler. I brought it into the dealer to take a look at it when I was experiencing the clutch slipping while shifting into first gear and also the "Service Auto Start Stop" indicator illuminating. Once the indicator illuminated, it also prevented by cruise control from working. After the dealer conducted troubleshooting of the issue, they told me that it was due to a safety recall on the clutch plate but that parts were unavailable. This appointment took place on August 4th, 2023. I was told that this issue could lead to a fire, so I have not been driving the vehicle since then. As of October 31st 2023, they still do not have the necessary parts to fix the issue. In the meantime, I've had to arrange for alternate transportation which cost me ~$3,700.

Filed Apr 3, 2023 · Electrical · CA

I have taken vehicle into jeep 4 times in less than 2 years . Auto start stop (ESS) fails first then check engine comes on right after car shuts off on own WHILE driving & stalls hard . We have been rear ended because of it thankfully we were not on freeway after googling and asking jeep community this is VERY COMMON in these jeeps . Aux battery goes dead and causes this issue and burns out a fuse and the main battery . We have replaced battery 4+ times now because of this issue . This is a saftey hazard thankfully the times it shuts off on us isn’t on the freeway where it can cause a multi vehicle collision most recent incident was 04/02/2023

Filed Mar 12, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · NY

Displays, "Service Shifter". Often followed by many, mostly random warnings, gauges fluctuate wildly, and disabled stop/start, traction and stability control; and sometimes loses power steering, and stalls and won't restart. The stereo volume, wipers, and cabin fan speed also can fluctuate wildly; worst case. This issue first appeared after going through a puddle, and seems to be exacerbated by high EMF areas; this is only corollary. This vehicle has never been used roughly or off road. The obvious dangers are, spontaneous maniacal warnings are a significant distraction to driving; if stop/start is not disabled vehicle will not start after stop at intersection, causing disruption to traffic; if power steering randomly stops working, which occurs while stopped or driving, the vehicle is nearly impossible to drive, and can only practically be driven by a strongman athlete. The coup de grâce where everything goes berserk, is usually when parked and attempting to reset the condition. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or service center; I have spent days inspecting grounds, harnesses, and inspecting, cleaning and replacing connectors. There's also a long list of mostly random codes for nearly everything, including the persistent lost communication with TCM. Up to October 2022 and 66,000 miles the only warnings or codes were for, wheel sensor (rep under warrantee), and "Small Leak In Vapor Recovery System" (leaky gas cap). A month+ after the warrantee expired, at about 66,000 mi, the vehicle began to generate random warnings and codes, and became unbearable (and dangerous) to drive. My observations and inspections and limited testing (haven't probed system circuits directly) lead to an assertion that the problem is system wide; many wildly various, mostly non repeatable, codes are recorded, systems that shut down are wildly various and not always repeatable; like there's nothing specifically or consistently wrong-but everything is failing. 5V reg in TCM?

Filed Jan 8, 2023 · Electrical · CA

2018 Jeep JLU Sahara 3.6 - Several weeks prior to January 2022 I noticed the Electronic Stop Start ESS feature was no longer working. There was also a message indicating the ESS was not working due to the battery charging. I took the Jeep to my mechanic (Not Jeep dealership mechanic) on January 14, 2022. The main battery voltage was checked and was above 12.7 volts. The auxiliary battery was checked and was approx 10.5 volts. I decided to replace the the auxiliary battery. Once replaced the ESS system started to work again and all electronic features returned to normal. Sometime in November 2022 the ESS stopped working. The ESS error message returned indicating the ESS was not working due to the battery charging. In late December 2022 the Jeep had a dead main (original) battery. The main battery was jumped and the vehicle started and ran normally for about a week. The voltage was checked several times using the voltage meter in the settings menu. Each time the voltage showed reading above 14 volts. One week after the first dead battery the battery went dead again. It was jumped again and started. The vehicle remained on and in park for one hour and was then driven. During the test drive I stopped the Jeep momentarily in the roadway to check the ignition. The Jeep did not start and could not be jumped. As a result of the battery failure my vehicle was blocking the roadway and could not be shifted out of park and into neutral. This was a dangerous situation. Later the voltage on both batteries was checked. The main batt voltage was 10.5 and the aux battery was 10.8 volts. This is a 2018 Jeep JLU. The first aux battery failed and was replaced in January 2022. The second aux battery has failed and will be replaced in January 2023 along with the main (original) battery. Three battery failures in one year is not acceptable.

Filed Aug 24, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · OH

April 2022 - Driving down US 30 in Ohio had the electronic stability control warning light come on. Took to dealership and was advised that no codes were stored therefore no work could be done on the Jeep. Next time the ESC warning came on it also gave service gear shifter, stop/start not available along with loss of traction control. Was told it was the wiring harness getting moisture and had been replaced. Drove Jeep maybe 100 miles and same codes came on with loss of power steering at a speed of 70 mph on I-75. This time Jeep was in the shop for 45 days with no luck of pinpointing the issue. Was told by the dealership to continue to drive the Jeep until the warning lights trigger more often. Had to put Jeep In the ditch due to losing power steering. Now Jeep is not wanting to turn over and when it does start not able to get the Jeep to go into ANY gear. I can not believe I traded in my husband's Hyundai in for this paperweight as I do not feel safe driving it.

Filed Feb 10, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · OH

When driving, at random times my dash lights all come on and the following components say that they're unavailable: ABS Electronic Stability Control Sway Bar Disconnect Stop/Start Blind Spot Alert I will then lose my power steering. My speedometer, RPM, and fuel gauges will drop to 0. This has happened both when driving around the neighborhood and while driving on the highway. I have been to two different dealers three different times and they have been able to reproduce and confirm the issue. But they have been unable to fix the problem. Researching the issue myself, I have found several examples of other owners having this same problem. Examples can be found on carcomplaints.com and jlwranglerforums.com. I don't know how many other cars must have this issue before action is taken by the manufacturer, but I consider the loss of power steering and the airbag system a significant safety issue. My vehicle is available for inspection at any time.

Filed Sep 20, 2021 · Electrical · KS

Stop/Start feature began intermittently working only in March of 2020. Stopped working completely in May. On July 31, 2020 it began functioning. Never worked again after that day. In March 2021 I had the vehicle serviced and advised the dealership it was not functioning. No tests were run and was advised I needed to drive the vehicle more to keep the auxiliary battery charged. On September 12, 2021, vehicle would not start after driving it most of the day. Had to jump start to get running. Would not start the next morning. On 9/13/21, jump started and driven to dealership. R/O Number 6085781/1. Installed BBAUX101AB battery due to Start/Stop battery failed. Stop/Start was not functioning upon leaving dealership. Did not function until 9/19/21 at 8:50am at an intersection. Disengaged the function by pressing the button on the dash. Vehicle shut down, displayed push brake to start. Vehicle put in park. Would not start. Had to use pull cord under gear shift to get in neutral and push out of roadway. Jump started to drive. Vehicle displayed "Stop Safely, vehicle will shut off soon." while driving down the street. Upon arrival, put in reverse to enter driveway, vehicle stopped reversing, felt like it was in neutral, vehicle engine began racing, instrument panel began flashing warnings, had to forcefully hold the brake, would not shift in to park or drive. All gear lights lit up on gearshift. Was afraid the vehicle was going to accelerate and crash. Passengers immediately abandoned the vehicle. Pushed to the start button and vehicle finally shut down. Warning flashing were: Service Electronic Stability Control, Service Power Steering, Service Airbag System, Service 4WD, Service Antilock Brake System, Passenger Airbag On (with no passenger). Instrument needles began moving up and down and would not stop. Opened door and needles ticked, blank screen and a ding. Did this for over an hour before all stopped. Vehicle completely dead. Will not jumpstart.