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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.

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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.

15 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2014
Power TrainSteering

I HAVE A 1999 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA V.6. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY JEEP IS IN GREAT SHAPE HOWEVER I STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. I NOTICED AROUND THE APEX ON BOTH SIDES THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY. I HAD IT A NEW PIECE WELDED IN PLACE AND IT WAS WORKING GREAT. THEN I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES. I THO…

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I HAVE A 1999 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA V.6. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY JEEP IS IN GREAT SHAPE HOWEVER I STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. I NOTICED AROUND THE APEX ON BOTH SIDES THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY. I HAD IT A NEW PIECE WELDED IN PLACE AND IT WAS WORKING GREAT. THEN I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PLATE THAT LIES BELOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUSTED FROM THE FRAME AND NOT SUPPORTING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THAT WELDED TOO. I LOOKED THE OTHER DAY AND NOTICED A HOLE BETWEEN THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL AND GOLF BALL. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO MY WELDER AND HE SAID THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF MY FRAME IS RUSTED AWAY. I WAS TOLD BY MY BODY SHOP THAT BECAUSE OF JEEPS DESIGN WATER WAS ABLE TO GET AND NOT OUT CAUSING IT TO RUST. THE BODY OF MY JEEP IS IN GREAT CONDITION AS WELL AS MY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IF NO ONCE CATCHES IT I COULD HAVE LOST MY FRONT WHEELS AND OR TRANSMISSION. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS. I'M LOOKING AT $3000.00 TO REPLACE MY FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604427

135,695 miles · Jul 1, 2012
Power Train

DRIVING MY 1999 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4.0 L6 5-SPEED MANUAL AT APPX. 65 MPH A SLIGHT VIBRATION CAME FROM THE GAS PEDAL. I PULLED OVER, AFTER CRAWLING UNDER THE VEHICLE I FOUND THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT LOOSE AT THE JOINT CONNECTING TO MY STOCK NP231J TRANSFER CASE. FIGURING IT WAS JUST A WORN U-JOINT I CONTINUED ON MY WAY AT A MUCH SL…

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DRIVING MY 1999 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4.0 L6 5-SPEED MANUAL AT APPX. 65 MPH A SLIGHT VIBRATION CAME FROM THE GAS PEDAL. I PULLED OVER, AFTER CRAWLING UNDER THE VEHICLE I FOUND THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT LOOSE AT THE JOINT CONNECTING TO MY STOCK NP231J TRANSFER CASE. FIGURING IT WAS JUST A WORN U-JOINT I CONTINUED ON MY WAY AT A MUCH SLOWER SPEED APPX. 35 MPH FOR ABOUT 300 YARDS THERE WAS A LOUD POP ALONG WITH METAL AND DIRT FLYING FROM UNDER THE JEEP WHICH MADE ME PULL OVER ONCE AGAIN THIS TIME OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDING UP IN THE DITCH. WHERE I FOUND THE NP231J SHATTERED IN 5 PIECES, MANY MORE WERE THROWN ONTO THE ROAD WAY.

NHTSA ODI #10464861

69,500 miles · Jan 23, 2006
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10148712

52,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND WITHOUT WARNING IT POPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND STARTED SURGING. CONSUMER JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE HIT AN AIRPLANE ON THE FIELD. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GRASS ON FLAT LAND. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10079492

1,200 miles · Jun 20, 2003
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSIMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. FIRST IS THE EXPERIENCE OF, ON OCCASION THE CAR NOT STARTING WHILE IN PARK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALLED CHRYSLER ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THEY INFORMED ME JUST TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL WHENEVER THAT HAPPENED AND IT WOULD …

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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSIMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. FIRST IS THE EXPERIENCE OF, ON OCCASION THE CAR NOT STARTING WHILE IN PARK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALLED CHRYSLER ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THEY INFORMED ME JUST TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL WHENEVER THAT HAPPENED AND IT WOULD START OK. I HAVE HAD TO DO THAT VERY OFTEN. I ASSUMED IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE THE LO 4 WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM, BUT HAVE NOT HAD THE NEED FOR IT, HENCE NEVER BOTHERED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THIS YEAR THE TRANSMISSION HAS DISENGAGED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN EACH GEAR. IT IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, AND HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MECHANIC, HAD LINES CHECKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES, ETC., BUT STILL HASN'T RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID THAT IN A CRISIS SITUATION, I WILL HIT THE GAS, AND THE CAR WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE, OR WILL LUNGE AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE REVING SO HI BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS ALL HIGHWAY MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IT MIGHT RESULT IN AN INJURY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023444

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2003
Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 1999 WRANGLER, WITH ONLY 70000 MILES ON IT, AND THE ENTIRE REAR END GAVE LOOSE. NOW I HAVE A WRANGLER, THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY WORTH 14000, THAT IS NEITHER WORTH THAT NOR IS IT DRIVABLE, AND ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE TO SHELL OUT 1000 DOLLARS IN MY OWN MONEY TO FIX THE THING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021304

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2003
Power TrainCrash

ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT A GAS PUMP AND A VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015383

27,250 miles · Mar 26, 2003
Power TrainCrash

GEAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE, WHICH CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011043

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2001
Power Train

TRANSFER CASE FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #563561

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
Power Train

IN THE EVENING, JUNE 13TH, 2001, MY VEHICLE WAS PARALLEL PARKED ON A SIDE STREET IN BOSTON, MY PARTNER SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET, I WAS ON THE SIDEWALK GUIDING HIM BACK SO AS TO NOT HIT THE CAR BEHIND US. WITH HIS FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, SUDDENLY TH…

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IN THE EVENING, JUNE 13TH, 2001, MY VEHICLE WAS PARALLEL PARKED ON A SIDE STREET IN BOSTON, MY PARTNER SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET, I WAS ON THE SIDEWALK GUIDING HIM BACK SO AS TO NOT HIT THE CAR BEHIND US. WITH HIS FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, STRIKING A TOYOTA RAV4 PARKED IN FRONT. MY BUMPER GUARD HIT THEIR BUMPER HARD AND MY GRILL LIGHTLY HIT THEIR REAR MOUNTED SPARE TIRE, BUT THERE WAS REALLY NO DAMAGE. WITHIN A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE ENGINE IDLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, YOU COULD SEE TIRE SKID MARKS APPROX. 3 FEET LONG FROM THE FRONT TIRES, AND THE HEAVY SMELL OF "BURNT" RUBBER. AFTER READING ABOUT THE GRAND CHEROKEE PROBLEM TODAY, 08-03-01, IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT IF A PERSON WERE STANDING BETWEEN THE VEHICLES ON THE DAY OF MY INCIDENT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BADLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEK , THEY SAID "THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COULDN'T DETECT ANYTHING WRONG." THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RE-OCCURED, BUT SHORTLY AFTER THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE GUAGES SINCE THEY WOULD ALL GO OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND THE ODOMETER INDICATED "NO BUS" I SUSPECT THE TWO ARE UNRELATED, BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT. THE DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE GUAGES, BUT NEVER HAD ANOTHER REPORT OF THE ENGINE REVVING OUT OF CONTROL AS MINE DID. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. REGARDS, AL FOWLER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749715

Official recalls

1

99V117000 · 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

1

RQ99011 · 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

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