2012 Jeep Wrangler: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
832 NHTSA owner complaints · 10 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. 2012 specifically: 832 complaints on record, score 60/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler: the years the record supports, including 2012 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 832 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 59.43
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
ABS Control module, went out while driving on the interstate , causing vehicle to go into limp mode , and almost causing multiple vehicle accidents, loss traction Control, emergency brake light, and abs warning light on
The abs module on many of these vehicles has a known fault. You can’t find replacement parts, even the Jeep dealership can’t get them. Many ppl are driving around with faulty modules, on a waiting list for parts. I’m one of those people. All has been fine until I was driving toward 228 business in Angleton to turn towards Walmart. I was going about 45-48 and went to brake to slow down for the stop sign. My bra…
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The ABS, cruise control, and traction control features were disabled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an ABS module failure. The contact was informed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The c…
Recalls: 10 campaigns (9 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| 13V234000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line resulting in a loss of transmission fluid. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 16V352000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. |
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 18 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,400
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.
- Power Train282 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Steering204 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Engine172 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System147 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Air Bags128 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Unknown Or Other52 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Jeep Wrangler years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Jeep Wrangler?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (282 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 60/100, computed from 832 NHTSA complaints and 10 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Jeep Wrangler's most common problem?
282 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Jeep Wrangler sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 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 2012 Jeep Wrangler cost to run per year?
About $6,949 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $34,745 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 2012 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, 9 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/11/2011. 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 2012 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 — 832 complaints, 10 recalls on record
- 832 NHTSA complaints on record (59.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (52.1/yr)
- 10 recall campaigns, 9 touching safety-critical systems