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.
The front frame cap, or mounting bracket has started is rotting and deteriorating. This is a major concern which has courses many other severe issues. This is a major suspension component that is rotting away.
Frame rotted from the inside out around the lower control arms. The chassis is otherwise rust free, but it spontaneously rotted from the inside out. The lower control arm disconnected while driving down the highway, leaving the rear axle free floating, unstable, and very likely to cause a crash. The frame has holes in it that let water in. There is no drainage hole where the frame goes from flat on the bottom and curves up around the wheel wells. Water gets into the frame, sits there, and rots it from the inside out. There is no way to see this rot from the outside and there is no way to fix it without cutting open the frame and welding in repairs. If you google image search "Jeep tj frame rot" you can see other cases of the frame failing in the exact same location. Here's a blog post with several instances of it https://sarahstonesadie.blogspot.com/2019/05/Jeep-tj-frame-recall.html if you google "tj frame cap" you'll see there's an entire sub market of products specifically made to address this failure. Toyota had a frame recall, why can't Jeep" it's clearly failing in the exact same place and can cause severe safety issues. Attached is a picture "pre_rot" that showed it about 6 months(") before it completely rotted through. The other picture is after it failed while driving down the highway. It was a small rust bubble that started from the inside out that fairly rapidly resulted in complete structural failure.
2000 Jeep Wrangler tj with visible frame rust in front of rear wheels. Lack of drainage holes allows water to enter through factory drilled frame holes located in front and rear wheel wells and accumulate in the lower parts of the frame. By the time rust is visible on the outside of the frame, the inside has already been compromised to a greater degree as the rust progresses from the inside out. After researching online it seems to be a common problem with this model. There are readily available kits to repair these Jeep frames from several private companies which illustrates the severity and prevalence of this problem. Although the parts are available and inexpensive, the cost of installation as with most major vehicle repair, is dangerous and requires welding with specialized equipment and skills. A repair completed by an unqualified person may result in a vehicle unsafe for use on public roads. This vehicle has 175000 miles driven entirely (except one trip to atlanta) in Tennessee. This vehicle has been driven almost entirely on paved public roads.
I bought my Jeep in October 2000 and had it undercoated at the dealership before it ever left the lot. I had taken it back in multiple times to have it recoated and while the the body experienced some rust due to stone chips and age the frame still looked good until last year when I went to have some work done on the Jeep. When lifting up the Jeep to work on it, we found that the frame had some strange marks that seemed to be showing on the frame. When we scratched off some of the undercoating we found that the frame was crumbling from the inside out. After looking closer at the frame we discovered that daimler Chrysler had left open holes in the frame inside of both front and rear wheel wells on the side of the frame near the top of the arc of the curve in the frame. This may have been an ok design but they did not leave any drain holes in the frame at all. This has lead to the entire frame being compromised with no way to know that it was happening and no way to try to prevent it. This is extremely dangerous as a failure of the frame while driving will lead to loss of control as well as the risk of injury or death.
Frame totally rusted when bought from private seller. There are holes and rust everywhere. We took it to a mechanic who said it is a safety issue. The Jeep only has 114,000 miles on it! we paid 7500 and all we bought is a rusted frame but a beautiful vehicle. Now we must park it. We can't afford to fix it!!! Chrysler should have a recall. We could have been killed driving it!!!
Jeep failed state inspection due to rusted frame components. Cannot be driven dafely until repairs are made at owners expense. New frame estimates incl labor and material about $10000. Jeep customer service repr hung up on me when called.
Jeep has less than 40,000 miles and is well maintained never off road.. was driving over a bridge when the rear end felt like it was separating from the body of the Jeep. Jeep became impossible to control and I was almost hit trying to get the vehicle off the road. Jeep was towed to mechanic who said the frame is no good rear control arms separated from the frame the frame had rusted out from the inside. There is no solid steel left to weld onto.
I was driving the vehicle and noticed that when I shifted the back end of the vehicle moved. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was told that the lower rear passenger control arm had completely rusted off and broke and the drivers side was about to break at any time. I was advised to stop driving the vehicle for safety reasons
My frame has rusted out right before the rear wheels. This is resulting in a frame swap, and my mechanic said this is where he always see Wrangler get rust rot. It has always been garage kept, and had rust protectant every winter.
While under Jeep noticed the frame is really rusted. Real bad in front of left rear wheel and behind right front. Not safe to drive. Body looks like new has 100000 miles on
The contact owns a 2000 Jeep Wrangler. When the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection, the technician stated that the subframe was corroded and needed to be welded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The right rear lower trailing (control) arm detached or broke off the frame while driving my Jeep on a fairly busy road at 50 mph. On inspection found the entire right side of the frame is rotted and thin in several key areas of the frame. In the shop now. Jeep has 150,000 on it. Left side of the frame is better. Expected more from Jeep, this put us in a huge amount of danger and we are lucky we didn't wreck or worse, flip the Jeep. I see one complaint after the other with the same damage. Thanks Jeep and Chrysler for that. We were doing 50 in a slight left hand curve, think about it. Inspect your frames.
The contact owns a 2000 Jeep Wrangler. While rotating the rear tires, the contact noticed that the frame in front of the rear tire was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
While putting my T.J. on a lift for inspection the passenger side frame cracked in half. This is the second time the frame will have to be repaired due to deterieration.
The contact owns a 2000 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle started to make an abnormal knocking and bucking noise. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the transmission mount was rotted away from the frame. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN number was unavailable. Updated 4/15/15 updated 9/21/2017
I was driving along a rural road when I hit a bump and the transmission crossmember tore away from the bottom of the frame making it impossible to shift in to 2nd, 4th, or reverse. It is due to the bottom of the frame rotting away. Upon closer inspection I have noticed that the frame is rotted beyond repair and the lower control arm brackets are in danger of being ripped from the frame if vehicle is driven. The frame has prematurely rotted and is a danger to anyone who drives or encounters this vehicle on the road in passing. I have investigated the possibility of replacing the frame but have found it hard to find a suitable replacement due to this problem being very widespread. It is in fact so widespread that a company called auto rust repair makes prefab frame patches. These incidents of rot are very similar to the ones that caused Toyota to recall many pickups over the last five years or so.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Key West, FL, USA