Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Jeep Wrangler, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline36
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Parking brake20
- Power train19
- Seat belts16
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Visibility6
- Structure6
- Latches/locks/linkages6
- Steering5
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, 22 1994 Wrangler vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 people died inside them, and 16 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 1994 Jeep Wrangler failed the safety check 1.57% of the time — 18% more often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,069 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
60 first registered in 1994 are on Dutch roads; 65% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde22
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld11
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm11
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen10
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht6
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot6
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
73 cars built in 1994 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 153 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 New Zealand
1 1994 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: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.
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 1994 Jeep Wrangler: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 603108 | OUTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS MAY FATIGUE/BREAK. *AK |
| 602327 | THE OUTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK. *YC |
| 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 |
| 46491 | BULLETIN APPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED W/ 2.5L, 4.0L OR 5.2L ENGINE BUILT TO 4-1-94 (MDH 4-1-XX). INTERMITTENT ENGINE MISS AND/OR ROUGH IDLE, OR HARD START/NO START MAY BE EXPERIENCED. REPLACE ALL WIRES BY REFERRING TO APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL. |
| 43052 | UNKNOWN |
| 41035 | THE SPREADER BAR LOCATED BETWEEN THE CENTER AND REAR BOWS MAY NOT STAY IN THE LOCKED POSITION. *TW |
| 39528 | NEW COATED PISTONS. *TW |
| 10220995 | Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service. |
| 10191460 | Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling. |
| 10175510 | DIPAP Requirements - Addition of Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) Hard Top and Targa Top Panel Replacements - All Dealers (Rev. A) |
| 10139596 | Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PARKING BRAKE RESULTING IN ROLLAWAY
PARKING BRAKE
BRAKE ROTER DISC/HUD SEPARATION
FUEL LEAKAGE
REAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation