10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,635 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Aug 222022

Wrangler

  • miles

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

Ecm computer, o2 heater sensor from ecm and controls transmission shift points. Replaced o2 sensors and transmission is controlled by ecm not shifting correctly will stay in first gear and hard shift to second can create loss of control in wet weather conditions.

- Nederland , TX, USA

problem #24

May 082019

Wrangler

  • miles
Keep wobble almost caused head on collision afraid to drive vehicle over 55 mph

- Syracuse , NY, USA

problem #23

Jul 142021

Wrangler

  • miles
The dashboard will display odd behavior and all of a sudden the ignition will cut. Total loss of power. This has happened in the past with children in the vehicle. Very dangerous. Resetting the key will reset but it is random.

- Brooklyn, MD, USA

problem #22

Nov 122018

Wrangler

  • 70,000 miles

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

The vehicle was in motion and pulling from my driveway onto a city street when this happened. Both drivers and passenger center sections of the frame rusted from the inside out with no visible indication on the outside of the frame rails. Water and debris enter through holes used in the manufacturing process and due to no drain holes in any of the lower points the water and debris rot the frame away. In my case the transmission pan on the drivers side of the vehicle fell free when the bottom of the frame rail on that side crumbled while entering a city road from a private drive at less than 5 mph. Damage was done to the transmission, transfer case, one axle, and the rear drive shaft. The vehicle was towed to a private garage but they were unable to place it on a lift to inspect the damage as the frame would have crumbled and snapped in additional places thus creating a hazard and possibly deadly situation the technician inspecting the damage. The vehicle was then placed on a flatbed and brought back to my home.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #21

Aug 042018

Wrangler

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall, oil pump drive gear, PCM powerterrain control module I believe needs to be reprogrammed I have a failure of power while driving down the road like its getting to much or to little fuel and last week my oil pressure will not budge my gauges are slowly going out on my dash and the airbag light on dash blinks rapidly with the check gauges because of my old pressure I have taken it to multiple places to get it diagnosed and they say it is the oil pump drive gear and the PCM needing to be reprogrammed along with that being out of line my ground connections seem to be bad but I replace all of them from the battery to the engine block the dash and a couple more it has pressure but doesn't sound like it. All of this started happening at about 143,000 miles I have replaced multiple parts including the oil pump oil sensor all of the ground wires and terminals and checked as many relays as I can. Along with my dash when I had got it it had 130,000 miles on and the airbag light has always blinked and noticed a loss in power when I drive since I've had it, it runs through spark plugs and coils packs monthly and has since I've gotten it I drove it to Georgia and back and it sounded like it was getting worse and just kept getting worse and worse until last week my oil pressure gauge says I have no pressure and the engine has oil pressure but you can tell it's going more and more out of line. I know when I look up my VIN number it says it's been updated since March 14, 2019 but when I log into another app it says I have recalls I don't know what to do or how to fix it but it definitely is the three recalls that was put on the 2005 Jeep Wrangler tj.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

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problem #20

Jul 222017

Wrangler

  • 65,000 miles
I get a code that pops up after being on the highway for a time that says something regarding transmission. Also the transmission is slow to shift between drive and reverse sometimes and grinds (auto trans). There have been multiple reports of PCM issues that require rebuild or replacement but availability is scarce. Could be poor design.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #19

Jan 282019

Wrangler

  • 75,000 miles

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

My Wrangler has sever rust damage on the frame, windshield frame, passenger rocker, and firewall. The frame has rotted from the inside out and caused the transfer case mounting bolts to pull through. The vehicle was in motion when this happened but luckily I was pulling out of my driveway and not on the highway headed to work. The windshield frame rust caused holes that allowed water to leak inside the vehicle causing the floor to rust from the inside out as well. These issues continue to happen again and again with each new revision to this model. When and what will it take for the company to be held accountable to their negligence?

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #18

May 132018

Wrangler

  • 137,900 miles
Jeep started stalling either when parked or in traffic. Dealership says its the powertrain control unit (PCM or computer). Twice engine stalled as I was driving. Once as I was making a turn luckily had enough momentum to pull over and another time getting ready to proceed after a red light it stalled all of a sudden and again able to pull over. I have found many Jeep owners with this same problem and I am aware Jeep is aware but nothing has ever been done. Started mothers day 2018 and a few times up till July when I just parked it and had it towed to 3 shops including dealership.

- Lafitte, LA, USA

problem #17

May 052017

Wrangler

  • 73,000 miles
Over a period of several days the vehicle started shifting hard and eventually went into "limp" mode and started throwing different codes for various sensors. After many visits to different mechanics I researched the problem myself and pinpointed the PCM as the problem.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #16

Nov 012017

Wrangler

  • 73,125 miles
2005-2006 Jeep Wrangler are incurring an apparent large number of PCM/ECU failures (as evidenced in many online forums and a high backlog of PCM orders which Jeep/Chrysler is unable to fill or provide an eta for). The failure of the PCM reveals itself in many ways including emissions system failures (and resultant vehicle inspection failures I will add), transmissions failing to shift, hard forceful transmission shifts with vehicle lunges and more. On my vehicle specifically the O2 sensor codes are coming on and the vehicle will randomly not shift out of second gear which presents itself as a safety hazard when entering high speed freeways and interstates. The O2 sensors were replaced new with oem parts and the codes did not go away. The fault was traced by a reputable mechanic (christian brothers automotive) to the PCM and further online investigation indicates this a frequent and recurring issue. When I attempted to replace the PCM through Jeep/Chrysler I am unable to because the part is backlogged. I have placed a pricey $1600 order for the part but thus far (1 week) I have not been provided with an eta or any answers as to why this design defect has not been addressed. Based on the large number and type of issues reported online with this PCM I am left wondering why it is not a safety, emissions and/or recall issue. My specific PCM pn is R6044529ac but multiple variations of the pn appear to be effected.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Jul 292017

Wrangler

  • 74,711 miles

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

The 2005 Jeep Wrangler sport was a total loss after it caught on fire and severely damaged the engine and the inside of the vehicle. It just had the transmission replaced the day before the incident. The vehicle continued to demonstrate transmission issues despite the new transmission (including difficulty shifting and a loss of power while going uphill). While driving uphill, the vehicle's transmission slipped and smoke started pouring out of the engine. The driver immediately put it in park and turned off the engine. The driver ran from the vehicle and saw that there was a fire underneath the car - near the transmission pan. The entire vehicle went up in flames within 2 minutes. Unfortunately, it was a total loss by the time the fire department arrived to put out the fire. An investigation will be completed to determine if a transmission fluid leak caused the fire. The Jeep Wrangler was a right hand drive that was being used on the mail route the day that the fire occurred.

- Franklin, NC, USA

problem #14

Mar 052016

Wrangler

  • 72,000 miles
Vehicle will not shift into 3rd gear. This started while driving the vehicle in town and now only runs in 1st and 2nd gear. Diagnostic code P0765 (shift solenoid D) is the only code showing. Other (03-05) Jeep were recalled for the same problem.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #13

May 092015

Wrangler

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owned a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, smoke emitted from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road, where the engine was turned off and then the front end and underneath the vehicle ignited into flames. The contact exited the vehicle safely and noticed that the transmission fluid leaked onto the ground. The fire department extinguished the flames and informed the fire originated within the transmission. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Ironridge, WI, USA

problem #12

May 112015

Wrangler

  • 121,000 miles
So was driving my Jeep when I stoped lost all oil pressure dropped to 0 pressure when accerlerated oil pressure went back but continues to drop to 0 when stopped I have replace the oil pressure switch with no change.I have researched online and this seems to be a problem with most 2005 heep Wrangler so my question is is when is enough /enough when are you going to recall and do the right thing?

- Elizabethton, TN, USA

problem #11

Mar 022015

Wrangler

  • 82,000 miles
My Jeep started making a very loud noise when driving. The more gas I gave it the louder it got and now it is un drivable due to a distributor oil pump. Biggest problem is all the Jeep parts people had no idea what the part it was and now they do not have any in the system nor can they tell me when they can have me one. There is a lot of complaints regarding this, stand up and do right for us jeepers!

- Destin, FL, USA

problem #10

Jan 142015

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter linkage cable broke and the transmission was rendered inoperable. This situation has hundreds of incidents detailed on the internet and Jeep should be forced to recall the effected vehicles since this is obviously a defective design and manufacturer part. Chrysler/Jeep is being dishonest with consumers by saying they have not heard of the problem, yet the parts manager at my dealership told me this is a well documented issue and Jeep is aware of the problem. Also associated with this issue, is the defective shifter tube sleeve nylon insert that cracks. This is also well documented on the Jeep forums. Jeep is aware that both parts are defective and they should be forced to fix the problem free of charge for owners. Please help!

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #9

May 272013

Wrangler

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was advised that the shifter cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- No City , VI, USA

problem #8

Nov 302012

Wrangler 6-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
Automatic transmission shift linkage cable broke. Unable to start vehicle with transmission selected in either "park" or "neutral." Shift linkage cable replaced by dealer, not under warranty or recall.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #7

Jun 132012

Wrangler 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
Around June 2010, I parked the vehicle in a hospital parking lot. Upon returning to vehicle, shift lever just flopped back and forth. Could not shift out of park. Had Jeep towed to Jeep dealership. They replaced the shifter cable at a cost of over $300. Two weeks ago, June 2012, while driving, Jeep shifter broke again while locked in drive. Same dealership replaced the shift cable bushing. Another $100. I called Jeep/Chrysler and their representative informed me that they had no other complaints about this problem. Funny, since there are many websites about this very, ongoing, problem with Jeep shifter cables. In my opinion, this could be a very dangerous problem. There is no warning of failure. If it had occurred a day prior, I could have been backing down the boat ramp! I feel a recall, or at least, a notification to Jeep owners, should be initiated by Jeep/Chrysler. Thank you for your time.

- Camden, NC, USA

problem #6

May 112010

Wrangler

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated when he shifted the vehicle in reverse, the gear shift link fell off and the vehicle would not move. The contact also stated that he had to climb underneath the vehicle in order to shift it into gear; where he ran the risk of the vehicle rolling over him. The dealer was notified and stated there were no related complaints related to the failure. The manufacturer stated that if he took the vehicle to the dealer, they would pay a portion of the repair cost. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 25000.

- Silsbee, TX, USA

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