IllustrationEXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. POOR DESIGN DUE TO THE INABILITY TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION (IN AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD!!!). EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING CABIN WHILE DRIVING.*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
100–25K
2225–50K
3250–75K
1775–100K
19100–150K
8150K+
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
What owners actually said
213 reportsI HAVE A 1999 JEEP WRANGLER. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MINE BUT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH OTHERS I FOUND THIS IS COMMON. DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE AT FIRST IT WAS NOT BAD. I ONLY DISCOVERED IT AFTER IT BECAME VERY LOUD. HOT EXHAUST BLOWS ON OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS
PROBLEMS WITH BACK AND DOOR LATCHES BREAKING AND JAMMING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. ALSO, FLIMSY PLASTIC SLEEVES THAT CONNECT THE A/C/FAN/TEMPERATURE KNOBS TO THE CONTROL PANEL BREAK EASILY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER AND PANEL FANS, HEATER, AND A/C.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COAES ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HORN DIDN'T WORK AND THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT25 MPH, UNDER SNOWY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. UPON IMPACT,NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
THE DASH GAUGES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OFF THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE DASH LIGHT WERE ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE AIRBAG MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH GAUGES WORKED OFF AND ON. PH *JB
I WAS FORCED TO GET A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR MY JEEP AT 76,000 MILES. THE DEALER'S PRICE WAS $1,300 FOR THE REPAIR. I'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ON THE NHTSA'S SITE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE JEEP'S MANIFOLD IS A LESSER QUALITY. I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO C…
Read full complaint
I WAS FORCED TO GET A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR MY JEEP AT 76,000 MILES. THE DEALER'S PRICE WAS $1,300 FOR THE REPAIR. I'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ON THE NHTSA'S SITE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE JEEP'S MANIFOLD IS A LESSER QUALITY. I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND, AFTER TALKING WITH THE SERVICE TECH, SAID THAT HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WASN'T A "DEFECT" BUT RATHER "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." I' CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE AFTER SEEING THIS COMMON PROBLEM!!! CHRYSLER -- WHY IS THIS NOT A FACTORY RECALL?
MY 1999 JEEP LOST ALL GAUGES AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I FOUND OUT THAT JEEP HAS A TSB #08-15-99 SINCE MAY 21 1999 BECAUSE OF A FAULTY CONNECTOR.SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THANK YOU. *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