On [XXX], my 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (2.0L turbo) caught fire in the engine compartment while driving, at approximately 101,437 miles. The fire started near the turbocharger and heat shield area. There were no injuries, but the vehicle was moving on a public road with four occupants, including two young children in car seats in the rear, when the fire started. The vehicle had been returned to me four days earlier, after approximately 2.5 months at Preferred Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Muskegon, MI for a timing chain replacement. After the fire, I found that the coolant reservoir hose had come off its fitting, and the hose barb appears to have been broken and the hose pushed back on. Several under-hood trim fasteners were also missing. My best assessment is that coolant sprayed onto the hot turbo/exhaust components and ignited. The vehicle has not been altered since the fire and is available for inspection at Watson's in Ludington, MI. I reported the fire to the manufacturer. They directed me to take it to the local dealer, then instructed the dealer not to inspect or work on it. The case was escalated internally, but as of 10/15/2026 no manufacturer inspection has occurred and no one has contacted me. The cause has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent shop. The fire occurred within the vehicle's Certified Pre-Owned warranty period. As of this filing, the manufacturer has not provided towing, rental, or any other assistance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Jeep Wrangler fire or smoke problems
486 of the 15,949 owner complaints about the Jeep Wrangler describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2014 model year.
- owner complaints
- 486
- worst model year
- 2014
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,600
- typical mileage
- 50,000
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 33Oil consumption 24Overheating 23Loss of power 20Wipers 14Engine failure 13Stalling 12Slipping 8
Trouble codes mentioned
P06DD 1P0305 1P0303 1
What owners say
A burning smell and an electrical burning smell electrical panel not always working
report to the dealer that my 2018 jeep has recall for clotch overheating and vehicle can catch on fire , and it has been 3 years with no respond or completion or the job been done , feel kind of scared for the safety of me and my family every day driving ah vehicle can catch on fire . please help us to resolve this situation thanks
This is a 2024 Jeep RubiconX with 10.5k miles. I was running 60mph on a state highway on electric mode. I Didn’t see the battery was nearing 50%… sure enough Jeep lost power at 50% charge even though I was trying to floor it to keep it moving. The ICE kicked in a few seconds later. There was a car right behind me and understandably started honking his horn thereafter. Not even sure if my tail lights turned on when it lost power- I’m assuming not because my foot wasn’t on the brakes. Next morning the Jeep is dead. Dealership confirmed HV battery replacement. I’m just not sure how these are still allowed on the road. Specially with what 3 or 4 recalls on the same batteries with which Jeep’s resolution is simply a software update to detect any bad battery? Even with the 4th recall on the same issue, there are still reports of vehicles catching up on fire while parked. Not sure how you can keep letting them get away with this. Now Jeep has been throttling battery and electric performance without letting the owners know of the changes- this last recall (68C) they installed the 50% threshold mentioned above where the battery will just stop providing power and make the engine take over after some delay. This experience is not unique to me- it has been reported by several others in the largest Jeep 4xe forum. Endangering peoples lives by killing battery power abruptly in the middle of the road to save Stellantis/Jeep money from actually putting a fix on the issue is just another Ford Pinto moment. After our batteries die, they get replaced by….. the same exact faulty battery so that we can go through the same experiences over again. Jeep hasn’t addressed the root cause of the issue- bad battery design, and here we still are with hundreds of thousands of Jeeps on the road that may abruptly die in the middle of the road or catch fire on the lot. We can do better than this.
The high voltage battery failed to charge, power surges and power drops while on highway plus burning smell. Charger stopped charging and gave warning light. No one was able to replicate so I was forced to take vehicle back. I am in [XXX] and asked if this could be the issue. No one could verify or give me advice. Having done my own investigations I see high temperatures can affect and cause thermal fires. The manufacturer is not taking this seriously and also dealers in [XXX] where it is excessively over recommended temperatures to charge should be making owners of these vehicles aware or don’t sell them in the state. I have been treated appallingly from everyone trying to ensure my safety. Although I was lucky there was no serious incident I believe this will happen. Furthermore with the fires in EV or hybrids, why if excessive heat is an issue, are the fires not being investigated as to where and what states. I thought the federal safety agency was there to protect and provide safety information for manufacturers to follow. I am being left to drive a vehicle in which me my family and others are being put in danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact called for an acquaintance who owned a 2025 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, a neighbor saw black smoke coming from the vehicle. The neighbor called the authorities first and then called the contact, who was not at the residence during the failure. The vehicle caught on fire, and the neighbor alerted the occupants inside the residence about the fire. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The fire burned several trees in the yard and damaged the concrete in the driveway. A fire report was filed. The remnant of the vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and deemed a total loss.
2018 Jeep Wrangler rubber brake lines collapsing internally, trapping hydraulic fluid pressure, and causing front brakes to overheat/lock up. Happened last year on my driver's side. It completely locked up my caliper. Ended up replacing Front Driver Hose & Caliper. And both Front Rotors and Brake Pads. Now its currently happening to my passenger side. This time its actually causing a burning smell. Last year it did not it was just grinding. Been for a few months. At first I though it was my aux battery that was dead and was causing the smell. But got that looked at and didnt even have a ln aux battery. Didnt notice the smell for a few months. But now in extreme heat and worsen driving conditions it has came back. Was told my hose is collapsing. So now I have to replace rotors and brake pads again. And new hose and caliper on my passenger side
The car does not ride properly...it stops suddenly, it jolts, it vibrates, the battery sounds like it is overworking or overheating. Our plug-in charger caught fire and when we found out there was a recall on the battery we brought it to Jeep and they told us it's fine. But, it's not fine. It completely stalled while driving this morning and feels like it's going to blow up. I no longer feel safe driving it as it keeps jolting, stopping and feeling like it's going to explode.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while seated inside the vehicle while the vehicle was stationary, the contact heard a pop and then saw flames coming from underneath the hood. The contact safely exited the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by bystanders nearby with fire extinguishers and water. The fire department arrived on the scene, but the fire was already extinguished. The fire department pried the hood open. The vehicle was inspected by the Police and the Fire Department. A police report was filed. The contact stated sustained smoke inhalation, but medical attention was not sought. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Engine temperature went up while driving. The warning light came on and I immediately pulled to the side of the road. After 6 minutes on the side of the road the engine started to smoke and then caught fire.
Related recalls
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.
- Risk
- A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the high voltage battery software, and replace the high voltage battery, as necessary, free of charge. Some owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 17, 2025. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a later date. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 68C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning November 6, 2025. Vehicles that were previously recalled for the same issue under the federal safety agency Recalls 24V720 and 23V787 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Recall number 25V741000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between October 3, 2024, and January 23, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is 30B.
Recall number 24V652000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.
- Risk
- A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to recharge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until they are repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack software and replace the battery pack assembly if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 89A. This recall is superseded by the federal safety agency Recall 24V‑720.
Recall number 23V787000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV). The high voltage (HV) battery pack assembly was built with incorrect fasteners to secure the 200-amp fuse, which can generate excessive heat.
- Risk
- Excessive heat may cause the fuse to fail and result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the HV battery fuse, as necessary. Dealers will also inspect the battery assembly for damage and replace it, if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 53A. This recall is an expansion of previous recall 22V‑768.
Recall number 23V303000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Wrangler Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The high voltage (HV) battery pack assembly was built with incorrect fasteners to secure the 200-amp fuse, which can generate excessive heat.
- Risk
- Excessive heat may cause the fuse to fail and result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the HV battery fuse, as necessary. Dealers will also inspect the battery assembly for damage and replace it, if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z71.
Recall number 22V768000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
- Risk
- A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Recall number 18V524000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, the totally integrated power module (tipm) was programmed with software that may allow the engine to stall under certain operating conditions.
- Risk
- This could cause a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the tipm. The recall began on july 5, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 07V291000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, water and impurities can enter into the ignition switch, causing a short circuit.
- Risk
- This could result in a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ignition switch with a redesigned switch. Owner notification began april 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 02V075000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- Salt corrosion products between the starter solenoid wire and the adjacent battery feed in the bulkhead connector may short these connections, causing the circuit to bypass the ignition key control of the starter motor solenoid. The car can start without the starter sequence being initiated by the ignition key in the ignition lock.
- Risk
- The unintended start of a vehicle with a manualtransmission left in a drive gear can result in a runaway vehicle.
- Remedy
- The starter solenoid wiring will be separated from the battery feed wire by relocating it within the bulkhead connector on affected vehicles.
Recall number 93V083000 · Recall details
Questions about the Jeep Wrangler fire or smoke
Which Jeep Wrangler years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2014 (57 complaints), 2021 (34 complaints) and 2010 (32 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Jeep Wrangler?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,600 (median of 13 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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