CarComplaints.com Notes: Poor side crash test ratings from the IIHS are really no surprise.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,301 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Jeep Wrangler electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #80

Sep 172016

Wrangler

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just noticed while driving, all of the controls on the left side of the steering wheel are inoperable. These include the radio, bluetooth phone, information menu, reset, etc: Upon further examination I also noticed the horn no longer works. Unsafe and will not pass state inspection. Inquiry by internet search indicate possible clockspring defect, but that is inconclusive so far.

- Joplin, MO, USA

problem #79

Sep 102016

Wrangler

  • 52,225 miles
Wipers turns on automatically when in the off position, same with ac, stereo resets by it self. This happens no matter what the shift position is. No matter if the car is running or in parking mode.

- Selinsgrove, PA, USA

problem #78

Aug 312014

Wrangler

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13V234000 (power train, steering), 14V631000 (electrical system, visibility), and 16V352000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #77

Jun 302016

Wrangler

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The fuel pump relay on the tipm module failed (total integrated power module). This for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler unlimited isn't part of a recall and it isn't something covered under the power train warranty. The Jeep started turning off at low idle. This happened for backing out of a parking spot or at a stop light. It now happens when going down the road where the vehicle turns off at random. It isn't safe to drive until it is repaired. I am working on the repair now.

- Granite Falls, NC, USA

problem #76

May 132016

Wrangler

  • 52,000 miles
I just left work and had traveled less than a mile when my engine shut off. I was only traveling 20mph and coasted into the first open driveway I could find. I opened the hood to a lot of smoke and a small fire from my wiring harness. My 2012 Jeep Wrangler sport is completely stock and always maintained through my local Jeep dealership. The official word from Jeep was that my starter shorted out which caused my wiring harness to overheat and catch fire.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #75

May 082016

Wrangler

  • 51,700 miles
The sudden failure of turn signals, windshield wipers, headlights, taillights, brake lights and all controls on the two stalks and the steering wheel. I do not know when it happened and realized it when I noticed the lack of sound and blinking dash light on using the turn signal. No fuses were blown.I do not drive in the dark much.I am having it repaired today. The service writer said it was a computer. How can Jeep tie so many essential controls together? if it had occurred at night in the rain it could have been catastrophic. Perhaps it has already happened to someone.

- Hood River, OR, USA

problem #74

May 012016

Wrangler

  • 57,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bag light came on while driving down a local city street. Took it in to the dealership and it was diagnosed as a faulty clock spring rendering the air bag inoperable. My complaint is that NHTSA already has 2 recalls on this problem but for right hand drive Wrangler only. My Jeep has the same problem, concerning the same parts, for the same reasons the right hand drive air bag failures occurred. Jeep refuses to cover my Jeep under these recalls. NHTSA campaign number: 13V176000 and NHTSA campaign number: 11V528000

- Charlestown, IN, USA

problem #73

Jan 252016

Wrangler

  • 37,000 miles
The tipm unit went out, causing lots of issues. The issues we're aware of are: The doors wouldn't lock, shifter was stuck in park, radio/cd/bluetooth wouldn't work, and the front headlights wouldn't turn off leading to a complete drain of the battery. Thankfully, the vehicle was parked and this didn't happen while we were driving it (it could have been very dangerous if it did). It cost us $1100 to replace the tipm unit, which was a huge financial burden on us, but even worse was that we had to go without the Jeep (one of our main means of transportation) for almost two months because there's a waiting list for the replacement part. We checked with 3 different repair shops just to be sure, and all said the same thing: 1.) that there's a waiting list at least 40 people long for this tipm unit, and 2.) that they've been seeing Jeep Wrangler left & right for this same exact problem, and there's a waiting list because the part can't even be manufactured quickly enough to keep up with the demand. I know the tipm unit has been recalled for Jeep Cherokee, but why not Jeep Wrangler when this is clearly a major issue for it as well??

- Alamosa, CO, USA

problem #72

Apr 092016

Wrangler

  • 49,000 miles
On 04/09/16, the wipers stop working while driving, and drivers side headlamp stays on continuously, and on high beam. Have to unhook battery terminal in order to get light to go out. Was told the tipm totally integrated power module has failed.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #71

Feb 022016

Wrangler

  • 55,000 miles
There seem to be a number of electrical issue mostly around the door locking failure; the horn and the touch radio

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #70

Feb 222016

Wrangler

  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was having electrical issues with my 2012 Jeep Wrangler. Specifically my windshield wipers were not working. It was snowing outside and they just wouldn't work. I had to manually get out of my car several times to clear the snow before I made it home. I got the motor replaced but it they still were not working. I took it to the dealer and they said that my entire tipm (totally integrated power module) "went bad". they told me that the could not order the part because its on back-order. I called Jeep and they said that the part was on back order with no estimated time of delivery. The tipm controls all of the electronic controls on my vehicle and I can not drive without it. It is a 2012 so I am surprised that this part is failing, let alone unavailable from the manufacturer. Furthermore the part alone is $850 and not covered under warranty. I did some research online and it looks like there was a class action lawsuit filed against Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge for this part being defective but it only covered certain makes/ years.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #69

Jan 012016

Wrangler

  • 38,000 miles
Tpim module has failed causing several strange issues with the car. Most notable for safety is the front windshield wiper pump will not work.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #68

Feb 012016

Wrangler

  • 150,000 miles
Airbag clockspring was replaced under recall M031 in early 2012. The part recalled had failed again causing airbag light to be illuminated, loss of speed control, loss of steering wheel audio controls, loss of horn, and loss of "step" and "reset buttons for the information center. This issue started out when turning the steering wheel in the left or right position and within a few weeks has became a constant problem to no avail.

- Eatonton, GA, USA

problem #67

Feb 172016

Wrangler

  • 35,000 miles
Tipm failure. The tipm needed to be replaced because it wasn't operating the engine cooling fan (radiator fan). The cooling fan module also had to be replaced. I understand a failed tipm could cause airbags to deploy inadvertently, window opening failure, random horn alarms, stability control problems, and more. An engine trouble light came on while driving. The dealership explained the power distribution module (part number 68244883aa) and the cooling fan module (part number 68143894ab) had to be replaced because they had failed.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #66

Jan 292016

Wrangler

  • 52,119 miles
12 jkru 52,000 miles. It first happened at night while wife was driving on interstate Jeep went crazy mode all lights in cluster illuminated warning lights flashing and with hot oil msg, warning dings going off, heard electric fan running. It seemed that nothing was controllable, auto trans went into and would not shift out of first gear. Scared the hell out of my wife. Got home after shut off I tried to restart but nothing happened. I disconnected battery to reset cpu that did not work. I stopped by auto zone to get codes scanned. They told me every system was reporting failure and needs to go to dealer. After restart every thing was normal. After 100 yards down the street it all happened again. Pulled into store parking lot, turned Jeep off and would not restart till 4th try. Drove it strait to dealer in first gear with all. They said that it was tipm and not under warranty, gave MA a rental car for 10 days because part is on back order. After 10 days Chrysler quit paying for rental car and still have no part to fix Jeep it has been 16 days. I guess there are alot of failures for the tipm causing back order and do not know when they will get one.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #65

Jan 252016

Wrangler

  • 70,200 miles
Air bag light and warning is going on and off when turning the steering wheel. Dealer says the clock spring needs to be replaced. There is a recall on right hand drive vehicles and numerous reports of all clock springs failing.

- Farmington, UT, USA

problem #64

Jan 272016

Wrangler

  • 39,500 miles
Yesterday when driving my Jeep to the gas station all of the warning lights started turning on and the Jeep battery light turned on. Knowing that it could be a problem with the alternator I headed home immediately. A block from my house in the middle of an intersection the battery finally died thankfully someone was able to push me out of the intersection because it was dark out and I didn't have any lights. I had the car checked and it is the alternator. I searched online and found that there is a recall for a pentastar 3.6 L V6 alternators but I'm being told that my vehicle is not included in the recall. By specifically excluding my vehicle from the recall they have risked my safety and the safety of those around me.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #63

Jan 212016

Wrangler

  • 20,000 miles
Faulty tipm.. having trouble with vehicle not starting. The starting issue started in 10/2015 but wasn't a regular issue til 01/2016. Brought to dealership as is is a newer model with only 27000 miles on it. They replaced a sentry module..problem persisted. Now being told it's the tipm. Apparently this is a wide spread issue and was told to report it.. still waiting to see if covered under extended warranty..

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #62

Jan 152016

Wrangler

  • 28,000 miles
2012 Jeep Wrangler have had intermittent trouble for well over a year. Turn car off and headlights stay on. Finally figured out that if I turn the car back on and roll forward a little I can sometimes turn lights off. Same problem turning the headlights on. Rolling the car a few inches usually corrected the headlights. Windshield wipers will start on their own or stop during use with no warning. This began in late 2014 but the problem was so intermittant we could not duplicate it on demand until August 2015. The dealer replaced the multi function switch and wiring harness but before we even drove out of the parking lot both the lights and windshield wipers were doing the same thing. They kept it a few days and "sealed the cluster". didn't have a problem for a few weeks and the car is now 700 miles away at school with daughter. Around Sept 2015 intermittent issues again but not able to duplicate at dealer. Recently (Jan 2016) the problems are daily and include the headlights going out every time the car makes a turn and then come back on a few seconds later. In addition the turn signal cuts off. Windshield wipers have a mind of their own but the lights are the most dangerous problem. Now that the problem is constant it's going back to a dealer but because the car is with daughter away at school it will be a different dealer. We are uncertain about tail lights because this occurs while driving and intermittently but the headlights and turn signal going off while driving through intersections has made this issue a major accident/injury risk.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #61

Jan 182016

Wrangler

  • 47,000 miles
While driving straight on my residential street my engine stalled and I lost all power to the vehicle. I had no power for lights, flashers, turn signals, interior lights, etc. Basically, the vehicle was totally dead. I was close enough to push the Jeep to my residence and checked the battery and I had full voltage. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and it was diagnosed as a faulty tipm. Fortunately, I was not on the interstate doing interstate speeds at night...

- Lightfoot, VA, USA

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