Our daughter (who is a student at the University of Virginia) had been having issues with her Jeep and the instrument panel. In addition to the "death rattle" which terrified her regularly when driving it on the highway, she had been complaining to us over the months preceding this accident that the car was doing odd things, the instrument panel was glitchy, would often have flashing lights and sometimes the steering wheel would feel tight or heavy. The day of the accident- she was driving to class on the UVA campus, going slowly (under 25mph) - and in the moments before the accident, while she was driving, the instrument panel started flashing lights, the fuel gage started going up and down, seeming to be having an electrical issue, so she pulled off the road going 22mph to get out of the way of pedestrians- there was actually a campus police officer directing traffic at the intersection she was going through. So, she quickly pulled off the road to a side parking area next to a campus building - and then suddenly the car accelerated rapidly at 40mph into the side of a building. The car was totaled, driver (our daughter) could have been killed as the jeep drove up a stairway and over an iron hand railing which could have impaled her - and at no point did the airbags deploy. The fact that the airbag didn't deploy during this address is crazy. Something was not right with this vehicle. We had just had it in the shop at Jeep Charlottesville where it was there for a week two weeks before this accident.
Jeep Wrangler no deployment problems
160 of the 15,954 owner complaints about the Jeep Wrangler describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2016 model year.
- owner complaints
- 160
- worst model year
- 2016
- typical mileage
- 40,020
By model year
Often reported together
Airbag light 8Seat belt 6Jerking 6Sudden acceleration 3Headlights 2Fire or smoke 2Coil spring 2Check engine light 2
What owners say
oN 5-22-26 I was involved in a MVA. I was in a head on collision. My airbags did not deploy. I suffered a brain bleed and now have an aneurysm thought to have been caused by the trauma. My head hit the windshield. The vehicle is in my warehouse and has not been tampered with since the accident. I feel that the airbag should have deployed and in the very least the seatbelt should have kept me from hitting the windshield.
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while traveling at 60 MPH, the vehicle struck a deer. The airbags failed to deploy upon impact. No injuries were reported. No police report was filed. The vehicle remained operable and was driven to the residence. Two days later, the airbag warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was notified and confirmed there were no open recalls or active warranties for the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a report. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that when attempting to accelerate from being idle, or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly jerk, accelerate at an unexpected speed, or fail to accelerate. There was a ticking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle that could be heard when standing outside the vehicle. The Check Engine light and the explanation warning light, as well as others not specified, would illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the dealer was not able to diagnose the failure. The dealer updated the vehicle's software but was unable to provide a remedy for the failures. The dealer informed the contact of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 25V741000 (Electrical System) and 25V766000 (Engine); however, the parts to do the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving approximately 25 MPH, after accelerating from being idle at a stop light, the vehicle suddenly jerked and stopped. The contact pressed the accelerator pedal, and when doing so, the vehicle accelerated at a high speed, immediately causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle ended up crashing into a fire hydrant, causing it to stop. The air bags did not deploy. The contact received injuries to their shoulders, lower back, neck, and left knee. Medical attention was needed. A police report had been filed. The vehicle was towed from the incident. The contact stated that while the police were there, the officer noticed the engine revving as if the accelerator pedal was being pressed; however, the pedal was not pressed at the time. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The contact had not heard from the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owned a 2023 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while her husband was driving through an intersection at 40 MPH, another driver ran a stop light and crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The other driver's vehicle went underneath the contact's vehicle as the contact's back tires drove over the other driver's engine. The other driver admitted fault due to distracted driving. The contact stated that no air bags deployed inside the vehicle; however, the other vehicle did have the air bags deploy. The contact and her husband were seen by paramedics at the scene of the accident. The contact later sought treatment from her doctor, where an MRI was performed, which showed that the contact had suffered a concussion. The MRI also showed that the contact had suffered a traumatic brain injury, as white matter changes were found in her brain. In addition, the contact was informed that parts of her vertebrae were also damaged, which required surgery. The surgery involved a bone fusion of bone C5 to C6 and a disc replacement of bone C4 to C5. The contact mentioned she was a registered nurse for 25 years, and due to the severity of her injuries, she can no longer return to her profession. The contact's husband was also treated by his doctor for a dislocated right wrist. The injuries of the other driver were unknown if any; however her father, who was a police officer, picked her up from the scene of the crash. A police report was filed. As a result of the accident, the vehicle was totaled and was towed to an independent wrecking yard. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet been notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
I recently got into an accident in my 2016 Jeep Wrangler. My airbags never deployed however. Also my buttons on the left side of my steering wheel do not work and my horn does not work. After realizing all this I believe it is an issue with the clock spring. I did research and found in 2024 there was a recall for the clock spring but only in the RHD model. My car is a LHD model but it seems the same issue has occurred and my clock spring failed.
Component/System Failure: Airbag system failed to deploy during a rollover accident. The vehicle flipped, and no airbags deployed despite the severity of the crash. The vehicle is currently impounded and available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: My safety was put at risk because the airbags did not deploy during a rollover, increasing the risk of head, neck, and back injury. I experienced head, neck, and back pain following the accident and sought emergency medical care. Reproduction / Confirmation: UNKNOWN. The issue has not yet been reproduced or formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Inspections Performed: The vehicle has been inspected by police and insurance representatives following the crash. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the vehicle. Warnings or Prior Symptoms: No specific airbag warning lights were present at the time of the crash. However, the vehicle had ongoing mechanical issues prior to the accident, including repeated service visits and unresolved performance concerns. The exact relationship between these prior issues and the airbag non-deployment is UNKNOWN.
Component/System That Failed: The airbag system, forward-collision sensors, and collision-warning/braking system failed. Despite a severe frontal crash, no airbags deployed and no warning or automatic braking occurred. The Bosch Crash Data Report shows abnormal sensor spikes (up to +52g), inconsistent Delta-V readings, and failures in object detection (“No Object” recorded before impact). The components remain available for inspection through the body shop and insurer. Safety Risk: My family and I were injured because the vehicle provided no warning, no crash avoidance, and no airbag deployment during a major impact requiring a full frame replacement. This failure places all Jeep 4XE drivers at risk of severe injury or death in similar conditions. Has the Problem Been Reproduced? The problem occurred unexpectedly during the crash and cannot be safely reproduced. However, Stellantis’s inspection did not explain the sensor irregularities or system failures. Vehicle Inspections: The vehicle has been inspected by Stellantis (File 94277361), my insurance company, and the collision repair center. Stellantis claimed “insufficient deceleration,” which contradicts the severity of damage, sensor data irregularities, and the fact that the other vehicle’s airbags deployed. Warning Lamps/Symptoms Before Failure: For weeks before the crash, the Jeep produced false crash warnings, beeping, and forward-collision alerts with no obstacles present. During the actual impact, all warnings stopped, and the system failed completely. This sudden shift from false alarms to total silence suggests a sensor or module defect. Urgency: Multiple active recalls already affect this vehicle line. I fear this Jeep is unsafe to drive even after repairs. I am requesting the federal safety agency’s urgent assistance and investigation into this failure to prevent further injuries.
My husband was turning left from one highway to another highway when a car who was trying to pass multiple vehicles behind us hit us on drivers side as we were turning causing my 2021 Jeep to be pushed completely off the road and into a ditch where we hit a large pole/electrical pole. We hit the pole so hard that it moved it. Our air bags did not deploy at all. I got a notification on my Jeep app stating that there was airbag failure. My husband and my body were shook pretty bad from the incident and could have been seriously injured due to the impact. Our Jeep was towed to the body shop and they stated the gentleman working there told my husband that our airbags should have deployed.
On August 4, 2025, while being operated in an ordinary and careful manner, the newly-purchased vehicle experienced an episode of sudden unintended acceleration, lurching forward uncontrollably and slamming into a tree. Then, as the driver attempted to back up, the vehicle charged forward and struck the tree again. The vehicle's driver airbag never deployed despite sustaining two head-on collisions which ultimately rendered the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle's manufacturer hired an "independent" inspector to inspect the vehicle. They found "no manufacturing defects" and blamed "human error" for the incident.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 3500, Ram 3500 cab chassis, Ram 2500, Ram 4500 cab chassis, Ram 5500 cab chassis, 2023 Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and Chrysler Voyager vehicles. The steering column control module may not be welded properly, which can prevent the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column control module, as necessary free of charge. Some owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024 through June 20, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 14B, 33B, 34B, 35B, 36B.
Recall number 24V199000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain right hand drive 2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Debris contamination may cause the clockspring to fail, preventing the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash.
- Risk
- An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the clockspring, steering wheel back cover, and steering column shrouds, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 27B.
Recall number 24V196000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
Recall number 19V018000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
Recall number 18V021000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured June 16, 2015, to August 14, 2016. In certain crash conditions, the front impact sensor wiring may be pulled until it detaches before a signal can be received by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC).
- Risk
- If the ORC module does not receive a signal from the front impact sensor, both frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the front impact sensor wiring and relocate the impact sensor branch, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S76.
Recall number 16V734000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
- Risk
- These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
Recall number 16V352000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Jeep Wrangler JK vehicles manufactured March 2, 2006, to August 13, 2010. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
- Risk
- Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S33.
Recall number 16V290000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail.
- Risk
- Failure of the air bag circuit may prevent the driver's frontal air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring, wheel back cover, and column shroud, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S40.
Recall number 16V288000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken airbag circuits.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, a broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver-side frontal airbag and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1‑800‑247‑9753. This recall supercedes the federal safety agency recall 11V‑528. Chrysler's recall campaign number is M31.
Recall number 13V176000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 right hand drive (rhd) jeep wrangler vehicles manufactured from february 1, 2007, through october 10, 2011. Some vehicles may be equipped with driver's airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience a compromised airbag circuit resulting in an airbag lamp illumination, which indicates that the airbag may not deploy.
- Risk
- A broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver frontal airbag and will not be able to properly protect the driver in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injuries.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and remedy the vehicles as necessary free of charge. Chrysler will mail to owners an interim notification during march 2012. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 11V528000 · Recall details
Questions about the Jeep Wrangler no deployment
Which Jeep Wrangler years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2016 (17 complaints), 2017 (12 complaints) and 1997 (11 complaints).
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