2011 Jeep Wrangler: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
485 NHTSA owner complaints · 11 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The JK Wrangler (2007–2018) has a moderate, consistent record — the 2011–2017 years score between 60 and 79 — with the usual Jeep electrical complaints and, on the earlier Pentastar engines, cylinder-head problems. The JL Wrangler launched for 2018 and its first year has the highest complaint count of any Wrangler on file: the 'death wobble' steering oscillation, welds on the frame, and the 2.0-litre turbo engine. Read the full note on the model page. 2011 specifically: a year the record favours — 485 complaints, score 70/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler: the years the record supports, including 2011 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 485 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 32.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My abs control module is not functioning. The car does not stop properly in wet weather..the traction is effected. The abs control module was inspected by a dealership. The control module is non communicative to the abs module. The brake light, ABS light and the traction light are all on, all the time. I cannot get the vehicle inspected..If rain is dangerous, the upcoming winter is going to be treacherous.. I am ext…
I was driving and the traction control light, down-hill decent, abs, and parking brake light came on. Diagnostics came back to the brake module being defective.
Hood latches failed 3 days after vehicle purchase. Hood blew into the windshield obstructing my view at highway speeds. Dealership claims they are not responsible for damages as the vehicle was sold as is, but states the vehicle passed safety inspections and was able to be driven on public roads. Insurance company is currently investigating. No warning lamps upon incident.
Recalls: 11 campaigns (9 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 11V145000 | Power Train:Axle Assembly | CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 12, 2010, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF FASTENER TORQUE FOR VARIOUS FRONT AND REAR AXLE ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS MODULE. |
| 11V528000 | Air Bags:Frontal | CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 RIGHT HAND DRIVE (RHD) JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2007, THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLIES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE A COMPROMISED AIRBAG CIRCUIT RESULTING IN AN AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG… |
| 13V176000 | Air Bags | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken airbag circuits. |
| 11V315000 | Steering:Column | CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER, JEEP COMPASS, JEEP PATRIOT, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED STEERING COLUMN… |
| 14V631000 | Electrical System | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short. |
| 18V021000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana… |
| 16V288000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. |
| 19V018000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 17 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,600
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Air Bags145 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Fuel/Propulsion System88 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Electrical System83 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering58 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Power Train40 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Suspension39 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
Other Jeep Wrangler years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Jeep Wrangler?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Air Bags (145 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2011 Jeep Wrangler a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 70/100, computed from 485 NHTSA complaints and 11 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2011 Jeep Wrangler's most common problem?
145 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2011 Jeep Wrangler sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement: about 2.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $600–$1,700 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2011 Jeep Wrangler cost to run per year?
About $6,704 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $33,520 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2011 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for the 2011 Jeep Wrangler, 9 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/03/2011. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2011 Jeep Wrangler really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 485 complaints, 11 recalls on record
- 485 NHTSA complaints on record (32.3/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (52.1/yr)
- 11 recall campaigns, 9 touching safety-critical systems