10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,174 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.

2008 Jeep Wrangler accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2008 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Dec 212020

Wrangler

  • 104,007 miles

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

Vehicle components begin malfunctioning, wipers turn on, wiper washer pump floods windshield, lights flash, headlights randomly turn off while vehicle is in motion, horn sounds, cannot turn vehicle off. Turn key to off position and vehicle continues to run creating an extremely dangerous situation. Wipers and washers blind driver randomly. Online research all points to known issue with totally integrated power module that has well documented failure rate. This is a horribly dangerous situation that deserves investigation and remediation.

- Altamont, NY, USA

problem #23

Dec 172020

Wrangler

  • 125,000 miles
The defrost on a Jeep Wrangler is very ineffective and poorly designed. The only blower for the defrost is in the middle of the window causing the sides of the front windshield to severely freeze up and become impossible to see out of during inclement weather such as fog, sleet or snow. Basically any type of precipitation during weather that is below freezing will cause this which results in a severe inability to see out of the windshield which is a huge safety issue when driving in inclement weather. This happens when driving at any speed on any road as long as there is precipitation and temps are below freezing.

- Luverne, MN, USA

problem #22

Nov 202020

Wrangler

  • 80,000 miles
The horn blows on its on, the wipers and washers come on by there self, lights come on by there self, and the only way to turn them off is disconnect the battery. It happens moving or stationary.

- Union Grove, AL, USA

problem #21

Nov 072020

Wrangler

  • 135,000 miles

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

2008 Jeep Wrangler has had several issues with tipm. Wipers will come on, horn will sound, washer fluid sprays, and transmission will not shift (when the vehicle is in motion and this happens) intermittently and will sometimes create a no crank/no start condition after the malfunction happens while the vehicle is in motion and has been shut off. Defect has been traced back to tipm and tipm was replaced with an aftermarket remanufactured tipm. Problem resolved and now has reappeared with additional symptoms, such as when vehicle is put in reverse wipers will go off and engine will rev to higher rpms than necessary to allow for acceleration. The tipm defect creates a significant safety hazard when it interferes with the shifting, acceleration of vehicle. Most recent issue was 11/09/2020; issue has been ongoing since 06/2019.

- Flemington, MO, USA

problem #20

May 282020

Wrangler

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that on several occasions the doors locked and unlocked independently, with the horn blaring and headlamps flashing with the windshield wipers activated without warning, or driver input. The contact became aware that the failure was due to the failure of the totally integrated power module (tipm). The contact stated that to prevent the failure, the negative battery cable was disconnected while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

- Miami Lakes, FL, USA

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problem #19

Sep 062016

Wrangler

  • 50,000 miles
It happens randomly but the wipers, washer fluid, lights including reverse lights and horn came on and would not turn off. Engine would not shut off. After doing a little bit of research it seems like there are lots of people affected by this and they all concluded that it was the tipm. It usually happens when the vehicle is in motion and I would say it happens every other week.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #18

Jul 242019

Wrangler

  • miles

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

While in motion driving down the highway and on a city street car suddenly dies, no power steering, lights flashing, horn blaring, windshield wipers and fluid are activated and doors lock and unlock. Mechanic informs me it is tipm issue with 2007-2011 Jeep/Chrysler/Dodge. I investigated online and Jeep forums etc. Support this and yet Jeep refuses to accept accountability- as someone who has nearly wrecked on multiple occasions, I implore you address this or someone is going to die, because Jeep continues to ignore this problem!!! this also happens in the middle of the night when the car is parked stationary and isn't even on- I have woken in a panic several times by what I think is my car alarm going off, to find the horn blaring, blower motor, flashers, interior lights, and the wipers going on and off. Also, while driving at night, the lights suddenly go out. Once again I urge you to investigate this dangerous problem, because this will cause a serious accident, or worse if these issues are not resolved! *these incidents have happened on multiple occasions, but the most recent was today, so that is the date used to answer "when did this happen"

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #17

Jan 232018

Wrangler

  • miles
My ac/heater blower motor work intermittently. The horn sounds without being engaged. The windshield wipers will engage by themselves. These issues happen both stationary and while driving. I belive these issues are caused by the total integrated power module. When talking with others about this problem there appears to be a recurring problem with these vehicles. I believe these malfunctions could put me in danger. For example, if I can't defrost the windshield there is a visability problem. Also, assuming it is the tipm there are many other things that will eventually happen.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #16

Jan 052018

Wrangler

  • 88,500 miles
We were driving in the nm mountains at night. The headlights and tail lights went out. The wipers started running. I pulled off the road. We were lucky we didn't have a wreck. Eventually we shut off the engine and restarted it. The lights came back on.

- Sublette, KS, USA

problem #15

Apr 292016

Wrangler

  • miles
Abnormal flashing of instruments panel. Speedometer and gauges turn off while vehicle was in motion, turn signal indicator go off and on. Vehicle temporarily loses engine power. Intermittent loss of electrical power to all dashboard components. Radio, blinkers, wipers go on or off on their own. Vehicle ignition won't start. Diagnosed by dealership as: Tipcm failure; "computer fried" I had to pay for a new wiring harness, had to replace fuse box, brand new sway bar control module along with a brand new tipcm computer bought from dealer. Dealership won't cover repair cost nor is covered by Jeep manufacturer's warranty.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #14

Jul 102017

Wrangler

  • 124,000 miles

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

Horn, wipers, wiper fluid, air conditioner, and tail lights will all randomly start going off, and not even shutting down the engine and removing the key stops it.

- Marrero, LA, USA

problem #13

Jan 072015

Wrangler

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V631000 (electrical system, visibility) and 16V352000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Cayey, PR, USA

problem #12

May 302016

Wrangler

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. While driving 35 mph, the horn, wipers, and washer fluid operated independently. The contact turned the vehicle off and removed the key from the ignition, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the controller for the front windshield wiper needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear windshield wiper was disconnected and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- York Town, VA, USA

problem #11

Jun 242016

Wrangler

  • 40,000 miles
My 2008 Jeep Wrangler. 3.8L, has had a tipm issue for years, I ve had it to the dealer and they could not find the issue, but through research I have seen that many people have had the same issues, horn blowing and wont stop, washer and wipers come on and wont stop until battery is disconnected, door lock work when they want to, A/C blower works when it wants to..all of which return to normal after disconnecting the battery and then re-connecting, at least temporarily...but every time I drive it I worry about it going crazy...today it shut off completely on me going 70mph on a busy freeway, almost caused an accident, again after disconnecting the battery(on the side of a very busy freeway)it returned to normal and I drove it straight to the dealer again..Chrysler knows this is an issue, I will pay to have it replaced myself ($1200)and hope that's the whole issue, but this issue is much larger if you watch you tube videos and read the Jeep forums...this will cause accidents or worse.....Chrysler should recall these as they have others.....

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #10

Mar 012016

Wrangler

  • 75,000 miles
166,666.00

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #9

Nov 132015

Wrangler

  • 86,000 miles
Without warning... horn starts blowing, windshield washer comes on, lights flash, door locks won't work, key switch off doesn't stop the problem, so far have able to pull off the road and open the hood to disconnect the battery. Reconnecting the battery sometimes works but the heater/ac stops working... this situation is a real road hazard!!! after awhile things work ok until it repeats. Very dangerous car to be on the road. Jeep service people respond by saying that that they find nothing wrong! well sure, the event is over when we are able to bring the vehicle in to be "fixed"! basis for a class action suit for sure! vehicle has been in motion on the highway and stationary when this has happened.

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

problem #8

Sep 102014

Wrangler

  • 125,000 miles
September of 2014 last year I noticed the airbag malfunction light come on. I called my local Jeep Chrysler dealer and left a few messages about recalls and if this meant a problem with my airbags. No one ever called me back after 2 weeks of waiting the airbag malfunction light went off and it would stay off for weeks and mysteriously come on periodically. So after a few months go by in December of 2014 I was at a supermarket parking lot with my wife and three children when we pulled into a parking space amd thw horn, lights, wipers and dash lit up. I quickly disconnected the neg battery and reconnected it two or three times and it stoppped. I looked online for similar problems and disconmected the horn amp via fusebox. Jumpstart to Feb 2015 while on the highway the horn blares and wipers go off but the vehicle turns off and I glided to the breakdown lane while other cars avoided me. 5/27/2015 my wife opened the Jeep door and it triggered the wipers, dash lights and wiper fluid to spray. When you're on a fixed income bringing your vehicle in for repairs is not always feasable. I took the Jeep to autozone free diagnostic and got a code U0141. After reading the similar stories we're going into the dealership for repairs.

- College Park, GA, USA

problem #7

Jan 162015

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • 133,000 miles
Leaving a parking lot all my electrical components began going haywire (wipers came on, wiper fluid started spraying, radio turned on and off, heat turned on and off, horn was blaring, door locks locking/unlocking at random). I removed the keys and the electrical failure continued. I began to smell burning plastic and noticed smoke/flames coming out from under the hood on the passenger side of the vehicle. After opening the engine compartment the fuse box was engulfed in flames. I was able to put the fire out with a fountain drink and a few bottles of water from bystanders. The wiring harness continued to smolder until the battery cable was removed. It is now in the shop to be repaired and will cost me 500 dollars out of pocket for my deductible. Thankfully no one was injured or killed and the vehicle wasn't a complete loss. This car also has no after market modifications.

- Cornelius, NC, USA

problem #6

Jan 102015

Wrangler

  • 67,500 miles
On 4 occasions, my horn and windshield wiper have spontaneously activated. On the most recent occurrence, we were driving at night and the headlights turned off for several seconds. This happened at highway speed but luckily my wife was able to cycle the headlight switch and power returned to the headlights.

- Watkinsville, GA, USA

problem #5

Dec 012014

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
2008 Jeep Wrangler sahara trail rated horn, locks, wiper fluid will come on while driving down the road for no apparent reason, causing other drivers to stop or look around due to the horn going off and the driver of the Jeep cannot see due to the water being sprayed all over the windshield unexpectedly. The only way to stop this is to pull over and pull the fuses or battery terminals once you get home. This is a serious safety issue.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

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