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

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,825 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 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2012 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Jan 092020

Wrangler

  • 98,000 miles

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

Passenger side headlight failure. Repairs made to wiring, and replacement headlight installed. Lamp still only works intermittently. Affecting low light visibility. Potentially an issue with tipm which has lead to other electrical issues, such as transmission not engaging. Has caused engine failure, and control failure in other vehicles. Happens at any time, stationary, moving, fwd, reverse, turning, etc.

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #29

Nov 142019

Wrangler

  • 116,000 miles
Driving my vehicle it started raining I went to use my wipers they do not work. My ESC light keeps coming on and off. My mechanic said it's the tipm. Please advise if Jeep with help me with this costly problem

- Monaca, PA, USA

problem #28

Mar 162019

Wrangler

  • 56,000 miles
Headlights, turn signals and windshield wipers do not work. All went out at the same time. Fuses checked and are ok. Forums list multiple complaints for this safety issue with the tipm failure. I was driving in a light rain and could not turn in my headlights, turn signals or wipers.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #27

Jan 212019

Wrangler

  • 80,000 miles

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

For the 2012 Wrangler, tipm 68105503ab was required to have additional relays installed due to wiper failure. Https://static.NHTSA.gov/ODI/rcl/2009/rcrit-09V438-9017.pdf

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #26

Nov 122018

Wrangler

  • 102,000 miles
Defrosters do not work due to heating system clogged with sand from the engine die casting. During time of manufacturing, Jeep did not clean out the sand from molding the engine which is now plugging the heater core. While driving down the highway, the windshield frosts over due to no heat. I have attached a class action lawsuit that demonstrates how wide spread this problem is.

- Elysian, MN, USA

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problem #25

Oct 032018

Wrangler

  • miles
Continuing issue with little or no heat being produced in the passenger compartment. This has been repaired four time in the past six years. It works for a few months and then the issue reoccurs. This effects the ability to defrost/defog the windshield as well as making the interior very cold during the winter months. Chrysler cannot fix the issue even with a tsb having been issued about the problem.

- Asburn, VA, USA

problem #24

Nov 012015

Wrangler

  • 45,000 miles

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

Since I have owned the vehicle the windshield wipers will come on every once in a while when I turn on the left blinker. I also have a problem with the tailgait. After about 3 years of ownership of the vehicle the tailgate hinge did not stop the tailgate from opening up a full 180 degrees causing the elbow joint to come completely out and my right tail light to be shattered. I was told by the dealer ship that this was common issue, but they would not return my calls/emails to get it fixed.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #23

Sep 192016

Wrangler

  • 69,000 miles
Windshield wipers stopped working on the highway in the middle of a thunderstorm, creating a hazardous situation. Took the vehicle into the shop, had the fuses checked, wiper motor replaced, windshield wiper switch tested, and nothing fixed the issue. The issue turns out to be a faulty tipm (totally integrated power module), and will cost over 1200 dollars to replace. This appears to be a widespread issue with Chrysler vehicles.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #22

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 #21

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 #20

Apr 092016

Wrangler

  • 49,000 miles

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

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 #19

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 #18

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 #17

Sep 112015

Wrangler

  • 20,000 miles
Door locks will not lock using fob or rocker switch / windshield washer will not work/ heater will not work/ radio dims when headlights are turned on/ dome light will not turn on upon opening door

- Palos Verdes Est, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 022015

Wrangler

  • 50,452 miles
Just over a month ago I was going to work, and noticed that my turn signals were not working. I tried moving the turn signal up and down to no avail. I also noticed that my headlights would not come on. I pulled over and thought maybe a fuse went bad or something and found every single fuse to be fine. I then also noticed that the digital compass readout on the dash was not functioning, and I could not scroll through the menus with the main computer using the steering wheel controls. The hazard lights would work properly...and the lights would flash properly when I locked the doors with my key fob...which told me that the circuit was still working. After about 25 minutes of fiddling everything suddenly started working again. The next day, while at work I went to lunch, and when I returned to work as I pulled into the parking spot, my windshield wipers randomly turned on without me turning them on...and I could not get them to turn off...even with the engine off. I had to disconnect the battery to get them to go off. I took it to the local Jeep dealer and they found that it was the tipm I figured well...now I do have a new unit and should be fine. That fantasy was destroyed yesterday when I went to go home from work, and suddenly my lights would not turn on...then got stuck on and couldn't turn them off...and my windshield wipers would not turn on at all...and the turn signals would not function...all while going down the interstate. I live in Virginia, and we are in the middle of a huge rain event, so the wipers and lights for sure needed to work in order for me to drive home. I had to disconnect the battery to get everything to turn off. After doing that...the headlights will not turn on...and the wipers remain the same and not working. Needless to say I had to get a ride home after I made it back to work...having to leave it at work.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #15

Sep 172015

Wrangler

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V631000 (electrical system, visibility); however, the part was unavailable to perform the repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Lakeland , FL, USA

problem #14

Jul 022015

Wrangler

  • 38,000 miles
The windshield wipers, directional signals, horn, steering wheel radio controls, headlights failed and rear back power window would not go up- this happened while driving in the rain.

- Smithfiled, RI, USA

problem #13

Oct 012013

Wrangler

  • 20,000 miles
I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler unlimited with 40K miles. Around 15K miles, I started experiencing issues with the driver side and front windshield heating/defrosting not working. Heating works on the passenger side, but not on the driver's side seating or windshield areas. This issue creates a comfort problem during cold days due to no heat on the driver's side but more importantly, creates a safety issue because the front windshield does not defrost properly without sufficient heat, creating unsafe driving scenarios. This issue was intermittent at first, but over the past 20K miles has become a frequent comfort and safety issue. This defect/issue/design flaw is a known problem with the current Wrangler unlimited as a number of others I know with the same vehicle experience this issue and you can find endless complaints of the issue on line. My dealer also explained they receive frequent complaints for this problem. I brought my Jeep to the dealership. They explained I need the heating core replaced, and due to its location behind the dashboard will cost me $1000+ to repair, primarily due to the labor required to pull off the dashboard and other car parts to reach and replace the heating core. This issue should be a recognized safety recall or service bulletin by Jeep/Chrysler with no out of pocket repair expense for the vehicle owners who expect to receive safe, high quality, well designed products from Jeep/Chrysler.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #12

Apr 102015

Wrangler

  • 49,500 miles
At the beginning of winter I notice the defrost/heat in the Jeep was not putting out a lot of heat. It would barely defrost the windshield. With the frigid weather we have had, I just had it checked. I was told the heater core, and the radiator would need changed because they were plugged. I feel sorry for anyone that owns a Chrysler product. This still does not run right after the head was changed, no dummy light comes on, so none of the mechanics will believe me that it is not right. As you can see by the mileage it is out of warranty, the issues started right after I bought it. It is not the dealerships fault, it is the company. Do something to get the issues fixed!

- Cadiz , OH, USA

problem #11

Apr 032015

Wrangler

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V631000 (electrical system, visibility); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Omaha, NE, USA

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