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Jeep Wrangler overheating problems

217 of the 15,949 owner complaints about the Jeep Wrangler describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2021 model year.

owner complaints
217
worst model year
2021
typical repair cost reported
$950
typical mileage
55,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Engine failure 24Fire or smoke 23Check engine light 16Loss of power 13Transmission failure 7Misfire 7ABS 7Oil consumption 6

Trouble codes mentioned

U1464 1P1745 1P082F 1P082C 1P06DD 1P0365 1P0306 1P0305 1P0302 1P0301 1

What owners say

Filed Nov 1, 2026 · Engine · TN

While driving my 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of engine power due to a cylinder failure on the left/driver-side cylinder head (cylinder #2). This defect causes the engine to experience persistent cylinder misfires, resulting in severe engine stumbling, hesitation, and a dangerous drop in acceleration capabilities. This creates an immediate safety hazard when attempting to merge onto high-speed highways, pull out into active traffic, or navigate intersections, as the vehicle cannot accelerate predictably to match traffic speeds. Furthermore, the persistent misfire causes unburned fuel to dump into the exhaust system, creating a secondary risk of catalytic converter overheating, damage to the exhaust system, and a potential engine bay fire hazard. This vehicle has only 86,000 original miles. This specific 3.6L Pentastar engine generation is subject to a widely documented manufacturing defect involving premature valve seat and head failure, which manifests as an unpredictable and sudden loss of motive power while the vehicle is in motion.

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · NV

Since the 68C Recall software update was performed on my Jeep, the vehicle has experienced recurring, unexpected losses of motive power while driving in Electric Mode. During these events, pressing the accelerator yields no response. Moments later, an "Electric Mode Unavailable" warning displays, followed by the gasoline engine starting and causing the vehicle to surge forward. This phenomenon occurs unpredictably—typically when the hybrid battery charge drops below 45–50%—and has occurred twice in the past week alone, nearly causing a rear-end collision each time. I previously submitted the vehicle to the dealership for repair, but no corrective action was taken. The dealership advised that the vehicle operates normally according to post-recall software parameters designed to prevent battery overheating. However, forcing an unprompted loss of motive power in active traffic creates a critical safety hazard.

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Transmission · CA

FCA US LLC is actively violating the intent of Safety Campaign 23V‑116 by refusing to cover out-of-pocket consequential transmission damages. FCA’s own Part 573 Defect Report explicitly admits that the defective clutch pressure plate causes extreme friction, overheating, and fracturing capable of damaging the transmission case and nearby internal components. The vehicle operated under these defective parameters prior to the recall execution, subjecting the transmission internals to progressive thermal fatigue and severe structural vibration. This directly induced a premature internal mechanical failure less than 9,000 miles after the recall was performed. When a reimbursement claim was submitted for this consequential damage, Jeep Customer Care explicitly denied the claim under a corporate case file, stating the transmission components "are not covered under the recall repair," completely ignoring FCA's own federal defect acknowledgments. I am requesting a federal investigation into FCA’s systemic refusal to cover consequential powertrain failures caused by this safety defect.

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Transmission · FL

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

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Fuel system · PA

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sahara, VIN [XXX]. 1. The exact malfunctioning component is UNKNOWN; I suspect the hybrid propulsion system. The vehicle is available for inspection. After recall 68C was completed, accelerator response, electric-power availability, and combined gasoline/electric performance changed substantially. The Jeep hesitates when I press the accelerator, the gasoline engine starts at unexpected times, and full electric-mode operation becomes restricted. Combined acceleration is noticeably weaker than before the recall. My complaint concerns restricted propulsion power, not reduced driving range. Horsepower loss has not been independently measured. Whether battery overheating or thermal-protection controls cause these restrictions is UNKNOWN. 2. I regularly pull out into traffic expecting the acceleration the vehicle previously provided, but the Jeep hesitates or fails to gain speed quickly enough. The approaching driver behind me then has to slow down. This recurring delayed response and reduced acceleration make safe gaps harder to judge and create a risk of a rear-end collision. 3. No dealer or independent service center has reproduced or confirmed these post-recall problems. 4. Recall 68C was completed, but these subsequent drivability problems have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. 5. I first noticed these symptoms on XXX, at 62,000 miles, after recall 68C. They became more pronounced during summer 2026 as warmer weather set in. No warning lamps or messages accompanied these problems. I suspect a connection to the recall work based on the timing, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. I request that the federal safety agency investigate whether the 68C remedy causes or leaves unresolved restricted propulsion power and delayed accelerator response. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 18, 2026 · Engine · SC

Misfire no. 4cylinder due to head gasket leak and coolant leaking into cylinder.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Brakes · KY

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

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Electrical · FL · fire

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.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Transmission · CT

Recall 19A was a full clutch assembly replacement on January 2024 at 60,000 miles. I purchased the vehicle in January 2025 with 64,000 miles. I have owned the jeep for 1 year and 8 months. I now have 78,000 miles. Service transmission light comes and goes if the vehicle cools down the light goes off and drives normal. When the service transmission light is on the clutch is overheated and slips I can not move the vehicle out of 1st gear. I drove it to a dealer and they state I have a bad clutch it is overheating. I do not believe I should pay for a clutch after a brand new clutch kit was installed 17,000 miles ago.

Filed Aug 22, 2026 · Engine · OR

The 2.0L Turbo engine suffers from premature failures. Jeep issued a TSB over leaking around the water pump, but did not notify owners. My engine overheated due to low coolant (there's no low coolant warning), and the temperature gauge proves to be unreliable. My engine suffered a head gasket failure due to overheating, while within the factory warranty period, and Jeep would not honor their warranty. My Jeep only has 33,700 miles on it, and the failure initially happened in 2024. I spent over a year going back and forth with Jeep, and in the end, they simply stopped responding. BTW, tried to upload 2 small .JPG files, but repeatedly said "upload failed".

Related recalls

EngineReported November 23, 2022 · 62,909 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles equipped with 2.0L Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle engines. A loss of communication may cause an engine shutdown.
Risk
An engine shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
There is more than one involved component and calibration software. Updating the calibration software in the Transmission Control Module, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor that changes fail safe from shut down to limp home. Dealers will update the transmission control module software, Hybrid Control Processor and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall ZB7.

Recall number 22V865000 · Recall details

EngineReported October 13, 2022 · 60,413 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.
Risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.

Recall number 22V767000 · Recall details

Questions about the Jeep Wrangler overheating

Which Jeep Wrangler years have engine overheating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2021 (32 complaints), 2018 (31 complaints) and 2020 (16 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the Jeep Wrangler?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $950 (median of 16 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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