Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Jeep Wrangler, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline18
- Parking brake17
- Seats12
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Seat belts6
- Power train5
- Electrical system4
- Suspension3
- Wheels2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 1990 Wrangler vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Jeep Wrangler failed the safety check 1.08% of the time — 6% less often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 140,340 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
67 first registered in 1990 are on Dutch roads; 57% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde22
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm13
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld6
- Wiel of band niet goed afgeschermd5
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname5
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
7 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 179,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
2 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN SELF-RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.
ON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS. ON THE LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODELS, PERIODIC RUBBING CONTACT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN OCCUR DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPLASH SHIELD IN CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jeep told its dealers about the 1990 Jeep Wrangler: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 600862 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK |
| 52963 | VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC |
| 51942 | DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW |
| 46153 | APPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.2L ENGINE AND FEDERAL HIGH ALTITUDE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. FUEL VAPORS MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION OF THE PCV HARNESS ASSEMBLY. THE PCV HARNESS ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE IDLE SPEEDS MUST BE RESET. |
| 43047 | UNKNOWN |
| 41032 | RECALL 558 - FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY CAUSE A VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MUST BE REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN PARTS. *TW |
| 39014 | IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE 1990 JEEP VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE, MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS. HYDROCARBON, CARBON MONOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN LEVELS COULD BE ABOVE ALLOWABLE LIMITS, WHICH WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE DANGERS OF AIR POLLUTION. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. *TW |
| 37980 | HYDROCARBON AND CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS LEVLS FOR THE ABOVE LISTED MODEL VEHICLES MAY EXCEED THE LIMITS ALLOWED BY CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, THE PCV HARNESS, CHOKE VACUUM DIAPHRAGM, EGR VALVE AND DECEL VALVE, IF EQUIPPED, MUST BE REPLACED. *TW |
| 10175510 | DIPAP Requirements - Addition of Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) Hard Top and Targa Top Panel Replacements - All Dealers (Rev. A) |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL LEAKAGE
REAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION
SEAT BACK FAILURE
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
SENDING UNIT GASKET FAILS
DRIVESHAFT/UNIV.JOINT FAIL
SENDING UNIT GASKET FAILS
FUEL TANK/EXHAUST INTERFER
FUEL TANK/EXHAUST INTERFER
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation