ALL GAUGES STOP READING AND DROP TO ZERO AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AT SPEED OR HITTING A BUMP. *JB
1999 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
108 reports with mileage · 105 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
53 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DIMMED COMPLETELY AFTER ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEFROSTER BLOWER STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS WELL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V117000, REGARDING THE OTHER (SCREWS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SMOKE ERUPTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
1ST ISSUE: THE DASH GAUGES WILL GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE FOUGHT WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW. THE DEALER OF COURSE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. NEVER HEARD OF IT. I HAVE COMPLETELY REMOVED THE DASH LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS. BAD GROUNDS? I CAN'T TELL WHERE. I SUSPECT THE PLUGS THE CLUSTER SLIPS INTO. I'VE TRIE…
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1ST ISSUE: THE DASH GAUGES WILL GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE FOUGHT WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW. THE DEALER OF COURSE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. NEVER HEARD OF IT. I HAVE COMPLETELY REMOVED THE DASH LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS. BAD GROUNDS? I CAN'T TELL WHERE. I SUSPECT THE PLUGS THE CLUSTER SLIPS INTO. I'VE TRIED TO PULL THE MOUNTS CLOSER FOR A BETTER CONNECTION. IT SEAMED TO WORK FOR A WHILE. THEN IT COMES BACK. A GOOD SOUND BEATING ON THE DASH BRINGS THEM BACK ON. AMAZING WHAT THAT PLASTIC WILL TAKE. ALL THIS STARTED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I REFUSE TO TAKE IT IN AND POUR MONEY AT IT TILL THEY FIGURE IT OUT. ALL I WANT IS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE GAUGES. I'M ABOUT READY TO CUT THE WIRES AND SOLDER THEM DIRECTLY ON. 2ND ISSUE: I BEGAN SMELLING PLASTIC BURNING OR SOMETHING. LATER THE HEATER FAN QUIT WORKING. AFTER SOME READING OF THE SERVICE MANUAL, I CHECKED A LOT OF PARTS AND FOUND THE CONTROL/SELECTOR SWITCH UNIT HEATED UP AND PARTIALLY MELTED THE WIRE PLUGGING INTO IT AS WELL AS BURNT INSIDE THE UNIT. BOUGHT ANOTHER AND REPLACED IT. WORKS GREAT NOW. ALL THE FAN POSITIONS WORK AGAIN. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FAIL. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE NEEDLES DROP. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V117000, REGARDING THE INSTRUME…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FAIL. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE NEEDLES DROP. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V117000, REGARDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
1999 JEEP WRANGLER HAD MULTIPLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES BEFORE 70K MILES. *TS *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE ORIGINAL DRIVE TRAIN WAS REBUILT USING ORIGINAL MOPAR PARTS. THE DRIVE TRAIN FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AT 69000 MILE AFTER ONLY 11000 MILES OF USE. THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. …
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1999 JEEP WRANGLER HAD MULTIPLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES BEFORE 70K MILES. *TS *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE ORIGINAL DRIVE TRAIN WAS REBUILT USING ORIGINAL MOPAR PARTS. THE DRIVE TRAIN FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AT 69000 MILE AFTER ONLY 11000 MILES OF USE. THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER FAILURES WHICH INCLUDE WATER LEAKS, DRIVE TRAIN SEALS FAILURE, ELECTRICAL FAILURES, MULTIPLE ABS FAILURES, AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PROBLEMS, AND THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. *NM
1999 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA WITH AIR CONDITIONING - HVAC ELECTRICAL ISSUE: SMELLED BURNING/MELTING PLASTIC, THEN HVAC CONTROLS QUIT WORKING. I DISASSEMBLED THE DASH TO FIND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON PASSENGER SIDE OF HVAC CONTROLS HAD MELTED. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD LEAD TO SHORT-CIRCUITS OR FIRE. *JB
RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V117000 CONCERNING INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREWS. OWNER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE GAUGES ON THE DASH GO TO ZERO. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE CONSUMER A BODY CONTROL MODULE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER PREVIOUS VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AN MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC
NORMAL USE OF FAN SPEED CONTROL SWITCH OF 1999 JEEP WRANGLER. THE MALE TABS ON BACK OF SWITCH BREAK CAUSING SHORTS AND FAILURE. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN NEW YORK ON VACATION AND THE SHORT CAUSED A DASH FIRE IN WHICH THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT DUE TO CLOSE PROXIM…
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NORMAL USE OF FAN SPEED CONTROL SWITCH OF 1999 JEEP WRANGLER. THE MALE TABS ON BACK OF SWITCH BREAK CAUSING SHORTS AND FAILURE. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN NEW YORK ON VACATION AND THE SHORT CAUSED A DASH FIRE IN WHICH THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMATY OF DEALERSHIP. REPLACED A THIRD TIME MYSELF DUE TO REJECTION BY DEALER AND CHRYSLER TO COVER COST. THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST THREE AND MAYBE FOUR SWITCHES SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS IN WILMINGTON, NC AND GENEVA, NY WHERE FIRE OCCURED KEPT OLD PARTS. ALL PARTS REPLACED BRAND NEW AND STILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. MY FEAR IS THE SWITCH WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL AND CAUSE FURTHER FIRES AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF VEHICLE OR PERSONAL INJURY. WITH THE TROUBLE I AM HAVING, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A MORE WIDE SPREAD ISSUE.*AK
Official recalls
199V117000 · Unknown Or Other
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING GROUND ATTACHMENT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LEFT SIDE SCREW LOOSENS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON. IF THE RIGHT SIDE SCREW LOOSENS, THE DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE GROUND SCREWS, DRILL A NEW PILOT HOLE ADJACENT TO THE ORIGINAL HOLE, AND THE SCREWS WILL BE REINSTALLED IN THE NEW HOLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ99011 · Instrument Panel Ground Screw
Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed May 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING GROUND ATTACHMENT SCREWS CAN LOOSEN
Illustration