3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,158 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.

2005 Jeep Wrangler engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments

problem #10

Sep 302011

Wrangler 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles

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

The oil pump drive assembly (opda) upper bushing has no way to lubricate due to manufacturing error in the 2005 and 2006 4.0 engine. This causes high metal to metal scraping sound and will result in engine failure. Happened after 38000 miles in a well maintained vehicle. Talked to many Jeep dealers and service tech's and they refuse to give any assistance or suggestions for a fix.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 172011

Wrangler 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
2005 Jeep Wrangler. Well maintained. Highest quality oil, spark plugs, air filters, cooling system. Camshaft failure at roughly 50,000 miles. Excessive wear causing knocking. Diagnosis from Chrysler: New engine required. No overheating, no abuse. The oil pump drive assembly gears are worn down so oil is not flowing properly. This is a possible cause for the camshaft failure. The other possible cause for the camshaft failure is that it is a flat tappet camshaft from the factory. This specific type of camshaft needs the zddp oil additive. Modern oil does not contain zddp because it causes catalytic converter failure. Without zddp excessive wear occurs. This is covered in sae bulletin # 770087. Sae is the society of automotive engineers. Once wear reaches a certain level further wear is rapid and causes catastrophic engine failure.furthermore, my Jeep is still under powertrain warranty. However, my warranty has been unlawfully denied because I have some unrelated aftermarket parts on my Jeep. Litigation is pending on this issue. Chrysler has gone against their own written warranty, and well as federal law (magnuson-moss warranty act).

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #8

Jun 072011

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
I bought a 2005 SE sport Jeep Wrangler about two years ago. In the past few months I have noticed vibrations increasing in the steering wheel and just in the past month the shakings have become extremely violent between 52-60 mph, causing me to have to pull over and stop on the interstate. I took it to the shop and have had the brake pad replaced, new shocks, new alignment, tires rotated, tires balanced, rotors replaced and the entire front end checked. The shaking is still present and I cannot afford to keep replacing one thing at a time when nothing seems to help. The violent shaking is occurring consistently every time I reach 52 mph now and I am scared to drive it on the interstate or have my family drive it. I don't know what to do, where to go or who to talk to to help me get this fixed without costing me my entire months salary or more. My tires also appear to be wearing wrong due to the shaking, which will cost me more money to replace. I have done research on this "death wobble" and am finding that it is very common. We need someone to help us so no one gets seriously injured and so we aren't paying out of pocket for a technical error.

- Waipahu, HI, USA

problem #7

Sep 012010

Wrangler

  • 69,066 miles

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

This is just a heads up, hopefully from thousands of others also of a pending mass failure of Chrysler's 4.0 motors involving loss of oil pressure and the potential accidents caused by motor seizures happening at any speed, anywhere. Chrysler has been dragging their feet on addressing this issue and in my case not even notifying me of a recall(which wouldn't have alleviated the root cause of the problem) despite my VIN having the S indicator in it indicating it being in the range for the recall.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 012010

Wrangler

  • 60,000 miles
Chrysler changed the oil pump drive assembly (opda) on 2005-06 model Jeep Wrangler. The opda was designed with a seal preventing oil from lubricating the upper bushing causing premature failures. These failures will result in a immediate drop in oil pressure causing the potential for complete engine failure at highway speeds. This will result in severe engine damage and may result in property and/or bodily injury. Chrysler issued a tsb (E05R) on certain models, however this has become a larger issue. www.jeepforum.com/forum/F9/2005-06-Jeep-opda_cps_distributor-failure-1144202/.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #5

Oct 282008

Wrangler

  • 60,422 miles
Recently purchased 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving, drivers knee will inadvertently bump the key in the ignition turning off the vehicle and its steering. This has happened 3 times in the past 3 weeks. We cannot be the only consumer having this problem...this is a set-up for a fatality. I see no recall on this...

- Walpole, MA, USA

problem #4

Sep 262005

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 1,000 miles

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

Butane exhaust smell overcomes driver/passengers malfunctioning rear wiper paint failing.

- Kennewick, WA, USA

problem #3

Jul 112005

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90 miles
While test driving, air conditioner did not work, I was assured that it would be fixed by time of pick up (July 11). The air worked when I picked up the vehicle, however, the check engine light was on. Air conditioning gave out 2 weeks later, took in for repair and they said the hose was cracked. When I picked it up after the air conditioner repairs, I didn't even leave the parking lot and the check engine light went on again. I have owned the car for 28 days and it has been in the shop for 10 days. Dealer does not want to make restitution.

- West Chester, PA, USA

problem #2

Jun 012005

Wrangler

  • miles
Never received a recall notice from the manufacturer re: Oil pump failures, but a recall existed on this vehicle. Notice was aparently sent in March 2005 to owners, but nothing was ever received. Recall was performed after I learned about it from a third party.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 102005

Wrangler

  • miles
2005 Jeep Wrangler X model had check engine light come on 20 days after purchase as a new vehicle. Also, overwhelming smell comparable to butane present inside the vehicle during longer drives and accelerating. Jeep was serviced 14mar05, light is off but smell still persists. Was told it could be coating on parts of engine or transmission burning off, but car is well outside of break-in period with about 2,000 miles on it. Dealership where serviced called to say the vehicle needed to be brought back several days later due to a code that came up on the diagnostics. Vehicle is currently being serviced again.

- Eatontown, NJ, USA

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