2004 Jeep Wrangler: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 192 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is steering (22% of complaints); the 2002 and 2003 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My Jeep's frame is rusted. There are holes and cracks in the frame from the rust. The Jeep will not pass my states safety inspection because of the rust. Parts of the suspension that are attached to the frame are about to fall off.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2023
“The frame has been compromised due to rust. The frame rusted from the inside out because the frame was not properly engineered from the factory. There are no weep holes at the lowest point on the frame. This causes water to sit in the frame and rust from the inside out. The rust appears without warning. This is an extremely dangerous because the frame can break without warning and cause loss of control. My vehicle is available to be inspected upon request.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2023
“The frame on the Jeep TJ is prone to rot. Mine is so rusted that body shops refuse to repair it, claiming their insurance won't cover them. My Jeep has 123,233 miles and is otherwise in very good condition, but the frame has rust severe enough to make driving the vehicle unsafe. The Jeep Forum on the Internet is full of similar stories, so Chrysler has known about this problem for many years. You should make them recall the Jeeps and repair or replace the frame. A few years ago Toyota did a similar recall on their small pickup trucks.”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owned a 2004 jeep wrangler. The contact stated that while exiting her driveway carport going 10 mph, without warning the vehicle accelerated and the contact could not control the steering wheel which seized. The contact attempted to depress the brakes which failed causing, the contact to crash into the carports pole allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. No emergency brake was applied. No injuries, no police report filed, no medical attention, no damage's to the vehicle, the dealer was not contacted, and no diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2019
“I have a right hand drive 2004 jeep wrangler. The right seat belt latch is always sticking causing my seat belt to come loose. The steering wheel starts shaking violently when reaching speeds above 50 mph,if you hit a bump, or if it's windy or an 18 wheeler passes you on highway, the jeep will rock side to side like it's going to turn over. It's very hard to control the vehicle. I have children to haul around.”Owner report · Steering · Jan 2018
“Mounting bracket for rear trailing arm became detached from the frame. Due too corrosion from the inside out. Cause vehicle to be unsafe and unable to drive. Contacted jeep dealer and insurance company was told that there was no coverage or assistance in regards to repair. Vehicle is only 13 years old can't believe jeep/NHTSA would not have a recall on failure such as this. It renders my vehicle worthless, unsafe, and unable to drive.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2017
“Traveling on the highway at approximately 60 mph when without any warning the front wheels began to wobble uncontrollably. I could not get the vehicle under control until I slowed down to around 20 miles an hour. Once the vehicle was under control I was able to cautiously accelerate back to speed and did not experience any further trouble. The initial problem started in heavy traffic and I was afraid of being rear ended because of my quick deceleration to bring the vehicle under control. This is the second time that I have experienced this problem both times at about 60 mph and straight and level roadways. Both times the extreme wobbling was sudden and unexpected.”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2017
“Dashboard covering over passenger side airbag is extremely sticky. My concern is not just for appearance, but for protection of the airbag itself and the need to continually clean the passenger side windshield due to a slight film produced from the decaying vinyl dashboard. This vehicle is housed in a garage in florida. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2016
“The driver's side lower control arm mount on our 2004 jeep wrangler broke off from the frame while driving. While accelerating on a city street, there was a loud bang noise from underneath the vehicle, and the jeep became extremely difficult to control and started wandering all over the road. Upon pulling over and looking underneath the vehicle we found that there were extreme amounts of rust and corrosion inside the frame that was visible from the outside. This rust caused the entire lower control arm mount to break off from the frame. Another rot hole was found further up the frame near the transmission skidplate/cross-member assembly as well.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2016
“While moving down highways 40 to 65mph ive noticed that whenever I hit pot holes or bumps my car imediately goes into a major wobble like I have a flat tire, however as soon as I tap my brake it stops. My friend told me this is a death wobble factory recall but jeep dealers tell me my car VIN isnt included. Why not since it has the problem?!”Owner report · Wheels · Nov 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A RECENT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED TIRE CERTIFICATION LABEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2004 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Wrangler by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
NHTSA has 192 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Jeep Wrangler. The most complained-about area is steering (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Jeep Wrangler problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 48,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Jeep Wrangler have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.