FRAME RUSTING FROM INSIDE REAR CONTROL ARM FELL OFF CAUSING WRECK
2001 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
103 reports with mileage · 67 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.
- Structure. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
21 reportsCOMPLETE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS MOUNT LOCATIONS. TWO LARGE HOLES APPROXIMATELY 1" IN DIAMETER. STRESS CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO CORRODED METAL AND CYCLICAL FATIGUE HAS CAUSED CRACK PROPAGATION AND CONNECTION OF THE TWO HOLES WITH ONE ANOTHER.
FRAME RUSTED COMPLETELY
TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT LOST CONTROL ON A WET ROAD. THE CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD, OVER A SMALL DITCH, AND HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CAR BOUNCED FROM THE TREE AND SWIPED THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH ANOTHER TREE AND FINALLY BOUNCING BACK TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY CURVED DOWNHIL…
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TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT LOST CONTROL ON A WET ROAD. THE CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD, OVER A SMALL DITCH, AND HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CAR BOUNCED FROM THE TREE AND SWIPED THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH ANOTHER TREE AND FINALLY BOUNCING BACK TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY CURVED DOWNHILL IN A SMALL TOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY BRAKES WHILE OUT OF CONTROL BUT THEY WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE THUNDERSTORMS ON AND OFF, RAINING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG IS THE SAFETY RISK. THE CAR HIT THE TREE IN THE CENTER OF THE GRILL WHICH CRACKED THE RADIATOR, TWISTED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, DAMAGED THE SUSPENSION, FOLDED THE FRAME AND SEVERAL OTHER FRACTURES. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED, BOTH A BODY SHOP AND THE TOWING COMPANY SAID IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. I WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. INJURY'S TO THE DRIVER INCLUDE BROKEN RIBS, SPRAINED ANKLE, BRUISED MUSCLES, AND A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD THAT REQUIRED 5 STITCHES AMONG A FEW MORE MINOR INJURY'S. I ALSO BELIEVE THE TALL STEERING WHEEL KEPT ME FROM BEING EJECTED.
WAS TRAVELING DOWN DIRT ROAD AT AT 20 TO 25 MPH, THEN HEARD DIFFERENT NOISE LIKE METAL SCRAPING. SHIFTING SEEMED A LITTLE HARDER BUT WAS STILL WORKING. AFTER RETURNING HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE JEEP AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION SKID PLATE HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND ONLY 3 BOLTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDING THE TRANSMISSI…
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WAS TRAVELING DOWN DIRT ROAD AT AT 20 TO 25 MPH, THEN HEARD DIFFERENT NOISE LIKE METAL SCRAPING. SHIFTING SEEMED A LITTLE HARDER BUT WAS STILL WORKING. AFTER RETURNING HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE JEEP AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION SKID PLATE HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND ONLY 3 BOLTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDING THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE. IF TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IF BOTH SIDES BROKE LOOSE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY. I'VE DONE SOME CHECKING AFTER THIS HAPPENS AND LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AS WELL AS RUSTING OUT IN OTHER PLACES WITH JEEPS AND THINK THE MANUFACTURER HAS AND LEAST SOME LIABILITY WITH THIS ONGOING ISSUE.
I HAVE A JEEP THAT HAS A FRAME THAT IS RUSTED IN THE REAR TRAILING ARMS AND WERE THE TRANSMISSION IS HELD. NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET BUT IF THIS WERE TO BREAK ON THE ROAD COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WORK FOR HYUNDAI WHO HAS A RECALL ON QUITE A FEW CARS AND SUVS FOR THE FRAME ROTTING OUT ON CARS AS OLD AS 2000 I ALSO NO TOYOTA …
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I HAVE A JEEP THAT HAS A FRAME THAT IS RUSTED IN THE REAR TRAILING ARMS AND WERE THE TRANSMISSION IS HELD. NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET BUT IF THIS WERE TO BREAK ON THE ROAD COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WORK FOR HYUNDAI WHO HAS A RECALL ON QUITE A FEW CARS AND SUVS FOR THE FRAME ROTTING OUT ON CARS AS OLD AS 2000 I ALSO NO TOYOTA AND NISSAN AND OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE RECALLS ON FRAMES WHY NOT JEEP I REALIZE IT MAY BE SPECIFIC TO SALT BELT AREAS BUT THOSE OTHER COMPANIES ARE FIXING THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE CLIMATE CONTROL MELTED COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE I KNOW THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
SKID PLATE THAT HOLDS TRANSMISSION FELL FROM RUSTED FRAME. IF I WAS GOING ON FREEWAY AT 55 OR PLUS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION....LOOKING INTO FRAME I SEE THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH WRANGLERS FROM LIKE 1997 TO 2002 AND IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT....YOU HAVE RECALLED MAZDAS, TOYOTAS AND OTHER 2000ISH VEHICLES DUE TO RUSTE…
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SKID PLATE THAT HOLDS TRANSMISSION FELL FROM RUSTED FRAME. IF I WAS GOING ON FREEWAY AT 55 OR PLUS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION....LOOKING INTO FRAME I SEE THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH WRANGLERS FROM LIKE 1997 TO 2002 AND IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT....YOU HAVE RECALLED MAZDAS, TOYOTAS AND OTHER 2000ISH VEHICLES DUE TO RUSTED FRAMES...THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FRAMES REPLACED BEFORE MORE FATAL THINGS HAPPEN....I AM LOOKING IN GETTING MINE REPLACED...BUT IF I DO AND THEN IT IS RECALLED DO I GET JEEP TO PAY ME BACK FOR MY REPAIRS??? *TR
FRAME RUSTED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AT BRUSH GUARD/TRANS SUPPORT, AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. BOTTOM OF FRAME UNDER DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT WERE BRUSH GUARD ATTACHES IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND THE FRAME HAS STARTED TO CRACK UP THE SIDES. I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A CRASH SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN …
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FRAME RUSTED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AT BRUSH GUARD/TRANS SUPPORT, AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. BOTTOM OF FRAME UNDER DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT WERE BRUSH GUARD ATTACHES IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND THE FRAME HAS STARTED TO CRACK UP THE SIDES. I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A CRASH SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME COMPLETELY RUST AWAY ON A 14 YEAR OLD CAR.
DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACKS, HEARD A POP. DISCOVERED THE FRAME BY THE TRAILER ARM, ON RIGHT HAND SIDE BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED, AS IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. ABOUT 2005 IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN TOWN IT WAS NOT NOTICED VERY MUCH. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE IT STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. ABOUT 2005 IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN TOWN IT WAS NOT NOTICED VERY MUCH. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE IT STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND THEN IT WILL STOP WHEN SLOWED DOWN TO AROUND 40 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DEALERS, A MECHANIC AND A TIRE STORE. SINCE STARTING TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED, THE BALANCE WAS CHECKED, THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON, SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, TORSION BAR CLIPS WERE REPLACED, AND I DO NOT REMEMBER THE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE LAST DEALER THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT HE COULD FEEL THE SHAKE BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR HOW TO FIX IT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A FRAME SHOP. SINCE THEN I FOUND OUT THAT OTHER WRANGLERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT EVEN HAS A NAME. THEY CALL IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE." WHEN THIS STARTS THE VEHICLE SHAKES ALL OVER THE AND THERE IS LITTLE CONTROL UNTIL YOU GET THE VEHICLE UNDER 40. *TR
Official recalls
302V104000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors
Apr 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MANIFOLD SHIELD TO MODIFY THE AIR FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS IN THE AREA OF THE #3 CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
02V075000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER AND IMPURITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A REDESIGNED SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
00V366000 · Child Seat
Nov 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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