While towing a utility trailer on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration and could not maintain normal power while the driver was attempting to pass a semi-truck. During the incident, the semi-truck contacted the trailer and shredded one of the trailer tires. Three occupants were inside the vehicle. No injuries occurred, but the incident created a serious risk of a fatal collision. The vehicle has repeatedly displayed “Service Electronic Stability Control” and other warning lights, together with loss of power and transmission hesitation/slipping. The same concern has been reported to the dealership during approximately three service visits. The dealership previously replaced the air filter and attributed the warning lights to it, but the condition returned. Dated videos show the warning condition before and after that repair. The vehicle is currently back at the dealership for the recurring safety concern.
2021 Jeep Wrangler transmission problems
149 complaints (15% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 15,000. 5 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 149
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical mileage
- 15,000
- crashes
- 5
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- Automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands1
- Automatic transmission1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Jeep Wrangler transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Jeep Wrangler transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Jerking 24Hesitation 12Shudder 10Won't shift 10Harsh shifting 5
Related recalls
Power train: manual transmission: control module: software
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that were previously remedied under the federal safety agency recall number 23V‑116. The software for the powertrain control module may cause an engine stall, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 92B. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V‑116 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Recall number 24V572000 · Recall details
Power train: clutch assembly
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- Risk
- Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024. Owners may contact (FCA US, LLC) customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 19A. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 21V‑028. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V‑028 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Recall number 23V116000 · Recall details
Power train: clutch assembly
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
- Risk
- Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2021.
Recall number 21V028000 · Recall details
What 2021 Jeep Wrangler owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have owned this vehicle since August of 2021 and consider myself very familiar with the normal operation and performance of the vehicles propultion system. From August of 2021 through December of 2025: - I could operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode - I could reliably tell when the vehicle would transition to the internal combustion engine and how the vehicle would respond when it transitioned (a smooth transition) - I could have confidence in how the vehicle would accelerate when the gas pedal was pushed. I had the 68C recall performed on 12/23/25 and since the recall, the vehicle's propultion system has not been the same to the point where it is a safety concern. - I cannot operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full electric mode and in many cases cannot operate in electric at lower speeds. - When the vehicle transitions to internal combustion, the engine climbs to an unsafe RPM, then reduces RPM in stages until transitioning back to full electric. This process repeates iteslf over and over as if the vehicle is trying to find the right balance between electric and gas. These transitions cause unreliable fluctuations in speed and power and put unecessary strain on the engine. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and nothing will happen for a couple of seconds. This is particularly dangerous at intersections. - There are times when I will go to accelerate and the vehicle will start in electric for a second and then immediately jump to 4500 RPM on the internal combustion engine, jetting the vehicle forward in an unsafe manner. The dealership noted the behavior, but cannot identify any codes and the official message from Jepp is that this is "Normal Operation." I've driven this vehicle for over 5 years and over 60,000 miles. I can confirm that this is not normal, this is not how it always has been, and there has been a change made to the performance of the vehicle since the recall. I have videos of the behavior.
Vehicle shuts down and looses all power and battery controls without warning. My [XXX] daughter was driving the jeep when this happened. Was unable to get vehicle into N for over an hour. Fuses and relays inside the under hood fuse block were extremely hot. After finally getting it into N, we removed from the travel lanes of the 4 lane highway. I had jeep towed to house and waiting to hear back from dealer as to when I can have it towed in. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I purchased my 2021 used with 29k miles in April 2024. Since then I have had to deal with three recalls but one of particular concern- 68c, meant to reduce the incidence of fire caused by the battery cell separators. Since then I have experienced a very noticeable change in how the Jeep drives. There is a large gap in available power, the gas engine sometimes kicks in unexpectedly at high RPM, other times I press the accelerator to the floor with no response, and at times there is a severe lag between the time I need to accelerate and the time that power is available. Overall not only did the recall fundamentally change the vehicle I purchased it also introduced unsafe driving characteristics because it is less predictable in its response.
In electric mode vehicle loses battery power (at 25% power draw)and several seconds later starts the gas engine to compensate. It does this at least once within every full charge (about 28 miles)-usually when the remaining charge is between10-20%, but on occasion it happens at around 50% and at least once when the battery showed 80%. When it happens at lower charge, it continues until the charge is 0 and it switches to hybrid mode. When the remaining charge is higher it will continue to lose power/start engine and then shut engine off for several miles and then revert to acting normally again. There is no indication on the dash that there is a problem. The jeep does not revert to hybrid mode -it stays in electric mode. This is repeatable. It happens at least once every full charge...usually while accelerating from a stop. I've had it lose power while accelerating through an intersection for several seconds before the engine starts...UNSAFE. Jeep dealer said no fault codes/software is up to date -so nothing they can do. On the phone, the rep said they have no way to troubleshoot this problem.
After application of the most recent battery recall/Software update, 68C, the vehicle operates differently than it previously did. In fact, it now nearly stalls while climbing a hill to my home when the battery charge indicated is less than about 35%. Vehicle speed drops from 25 to nearly 5mph, independent of accelerator pedal position, before the engine starts abruptly. Not only am I creating a traffic hazard for those behind me, but the cold gas engine engages at full load. Secondly, the overall response to accelerator input seems to be much slower, both in time and power, than before the software update. This causes issues when pulling out into traffic and is especially alarming when the Jeep won't respond as it did for the previous 50K miles.
The vehicle is not performing as it did when first purchased. Through a series of recalls related to the main drive battery, the vehicle now lacks power when in electric mode pulling out on highways, passing on highways, or even driving at speeds over 40mph or so. I went to pull out on the highway this morning, for example, in electric mode, and there was a good 1-2 second sluggish acceleration before the gas engine kicked on and revved up without any kind of warm up. I can't imagine this is good for the gas engine. I never had that issue before these recalls. I'm also concerned the recent recall is going so long without any kind of resolution. I feel like Jeep has had so many safety, fire and performance issues they really should be buying these back and taking them off the road. Pulling out into traffic and not having acceleration for 1-2 seconds is very dangerous.
My vehicle is currently in the shop getting the High voltage battery replaced for the second time due to a code showing battery voltage variation as well as getting the latest 21D recall completed. The Jeep currently has about 90,000 miles and has received all other recalls. The jeep no longer functions or performs like it did when I took ownership in February of 2022. It routinely loses power when trying to accelerate onto Highways or into traffic lanes or up hills. You can push the pedal down and there is a noticeable delay of several seconds before the vehicle starts to accelerate. The car no longer will stay in selected "Electric mode" and will instead kick the engine on at random times or take the vehicle out of "electric" and into "Hybrid". When at slow speeds (under 15MPH) in traffic the jeep lurches and slows, unable to maintain a constant speed. Also I have no way of proving that the overall power has been reduced through programming but the acceleration and advertised 375HP/470lb-ft does not seem to have the same feeling that it once did when first purchasing this vehicle. I believe there is a dangerous ongoing safety issue possibly with the programming, as well as the HV batteries. There were no warning lights coming on during the course of the last several months until I had a CEL for battery voltage variation and then it was taken to the dealership on the same day. There has been no communication with Jeep/Stellantis other than them issuing an unlimited mileage warranty on the HV battery. They seem to be replacing it with the same design, and therefore not addressing the issue only putting a band aid on the problem.
Death wobble
Since the last 2 updates / recalls , my transmission has become very clunky. From a stop or in slow traffic, the transmission pops in gear and it is very hard. It seems to be getting worse as time goes by. The gears when shifting thru the gears is fine, no issues there
Questions about the 2021 Jeep Wrangler transmission
Does the 2021 Jeep Wrangler have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 149 complaints about the transmission of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler, 15% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Jeep Wrangler transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 15,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Jeep Wrangler transmission?
Yes, 3 recalls: 24V572000, 23V116000, 21V028000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Jeep Wrangler have bad transmission?
The Jeep Wrangler model years with the most transmission complaints are 2012 (282 complaints), 2013 (230 complaints) and 2024 (182 complaints).
Other 2021 Jeep Wrangler problems
Electrical 310Steering 255Engine 227Suspension 181Fuel system 145Acceleration 48Brakes 27Wheels 24Driver assistance 21Visibility 20Body 18Airbags 10Lights 6Seats 5Seat belts 4Tires 4Locks 1
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