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2004 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 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

164 reports with mileage · 28 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.

  • Steering. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

192 reports
94,000 miles · Sep 27, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED HAS 94,000 MILES AND RECENTLY STARTED TO SPILL FUEL DURING REFUELING. WILE PUMPING GAS THE PUMP AUTO SHUT OFF WONT KICK IN . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357964

46,192 miles · Sep 4, 2010
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE WHAT IS CALLED DEATH WOBBLE IN MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN VARIOUS FORUMS, I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY EXPERTS BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE JEEP HAS AROUND 30,000 MILES,AND IT HAS BEEN OFF ROAD,BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN OFFROAD …

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I HAVE WHAT IS CALLED DEATH WOBBLE IN MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN VARIOUS FORUMS, I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY EXPERTS BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE JEEP HAS AROUND 30,000 MILES,AND IT HAS BEEN OFF ROAD,BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN OFFROAD AT ALL AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WITH MILEAGE I DON'T THINK THIS JEEP SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WARNOUT. THE PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353879

72,964 miles · Sep 3, 2010
Power Train

WHILE MOVING ROCKS IN MY YARD, I PUT THE TRANSFER CASE IN LOW AND LOCKED THE AXLES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE U-JOINT EXPLODED, DAMAGING THE INNER AND OUTER AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. I DO FAILURE ASSESSMENT FOR MY WORK AND HAVE DETERMINED INCORRECT HEAT TREATING OF THE CRITICAL DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS TO…

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WHILE MOVING ROCKS IN MY YARD, I PUT THE TRANSFER CASE IN LOW AND LOCKED THE AXLES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE U-JOINT EXPLODED, DAMAGING THE INNER AND OUTER AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. I DO FAILURE ASSESSMENT FOR MY WORK AND HAVE DETERMINED INCORRECT HEAT TREATING OF THE CRITICAL DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS TO BE SUSPECT. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE. MOVING ROCKS IS HARDLY HEAVY DUTY. THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF "REPLACEMENT" AXLES AVAILABLE ON THE AFTERMARKET THAT STATE THEY ARE "MORE" HEAVY DUTY THAN STOCK. A NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE PRIOR TO ME. MY VEHICLE MISSED THE WARRANTY BY 2,700 MILES BUT IS 2 YEARS UNDER. REPAIRS ARE EXPECTED TO BE $1,000 PLUS LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353830

30,000 miles · Sep 3, 2010
SteeringSuspension

MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER HAS "THE DEATH WOBBLE". AT APPROX. 45-50 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL JUST ABOUT SHAKES OUT OF MY HANDS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT EVEN CHECK IT OUT WITHOUT CHARGING ME BY THE HOUR WITH AN ESTIMATED 2 HR. INSPECTION. IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET YET JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS. I LOVE MY JEEP, IT'S THE …

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MY 2004 JEEP WRANGLER HAS "THE DEATH WOBBLE". AT APPROX. 45-50 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL JUST ABOUT SHAKES OUT OF MY HANDS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT EVEN CHECK IT OUT WITHOUT CHARGING ME BY THE HOUR WITH AN ESTIMATED 2 HR. INSPECTION. IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET YET JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS. I LOVE MY JEEP, IT'S THE 3RD ONE I'VE OWNED, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. THE ONLY FIX SEEMS TO BE TO POUR MONEY IN MY VEHICLE UNTIL I GET THE RIGHT PART TAKEN CARE OF. I CAN'T EVEN TRADE IT IN WHILE IT'S DOING THIS. I'M STUCK AND I WANT SOME ACTION TAKEN BY JEEP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353650

7,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
SteeringSuspension

I OWN A 2004 JEEP "WRANGLER X" SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAVE EXPERIENCE THE "DEATH WOBBLE " ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING. THE STEERING STABILIZER WAS REPLACED WHILE ON WARRANTY AND I HAVE REPLACED THAT ONE MYSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS @ 41,000 MI. AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350526

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2010
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY BE DEALING WITH THE INTENSE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON BECAUSE I COULD NOT PUT UP THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND SHOP THAT WORKED O…

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I HAVE A 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY BE DEALING WITH THE INTENSE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON BECAUSE I COULD NOT PUT UP THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND SHOP THAT WORKED ON MY VEHICLE RECOMMENDED A STEERING STABILIZER THAT IT WAS WHAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOW THE JEEP IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. NOTHING SEEMS TO MAKE IT GO AWAY. THESE JEEPS THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS ONE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THE TRUE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT GIVING JEEP A GOOD REPUTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349673

101,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Electrical System

IGNITION LINKAGE ROD (IGNITION TO SWITCH) ON 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED & JEEP LIBERTY IS POORLY MADE OF WEAK POT METAL MATERIAL AND IS EASILY BROKEN. KEY WILL TURN TO ON POSITION (SOMETIMES) BUT CAN NOT ENGAGE SWITCH. LINKAGE ROD NEEDS TO BE MADE OF STRONGER MATERIAL OR BE MADE SLIGHTLY THICKER (WHICH WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A RED…

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IGNITION LINKAGE ROD (IGNITION TO SWITCH) ON 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED & JEEP LIBERTY IS POORLY MADE OF WEAK POT METAL MATERIAL AND IS EASILY BROKEN. KEY WILL TURN TO ON POSITION (SOMETIMES) BUT CAN NOT ENGAGE SWITCH. LINKAGE ROD NEEDS TO BE MADE OF STRONGER MATERIAL OR BE MADE SLIGHTLY THICKER (WHICH WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A REDESIGN OF THE SWITCH'S RECEIVER HOLE) TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STRAIN OF TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. PART IS ALSO HOUSED BEHIND A REMOVABLE HOUSING AND IS MADE TO BE SERVICED (SHOWING THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXPECTED WARE) BUT PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A DEALERSHIP AT AN EXPECTED COST OF $400-$600. THIS IS ONLY ONE SMALL PART THAT SHOULD COST AT MOST AROUND $20 AND IS MADE TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE INEVITABLE BREAKAGE OCCURS. DESPITE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER STILL CLAIM THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM WHILE THE MAN IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WAS FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH IT HE IDENTIFIED THE BROKEN PART BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM MYSELF WHAT IT WAS. HE EVEN ASKED IF I WAS THE SAME GUY THAT HAD BEEN IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, WHICH I AM NOT. FIRST TIME REPORTING A FAULTY PART, MY SITUATION ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF REPORTS I HAVE READ ONLINE HAS CONVINCED ME THIS IS WORTHY OF A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349094

60,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
SteeringSuspension

2004 JEEP WRANGLER DEATH WOBBLE. FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING POTHOLES AT 45 TO 70 MILES AND HOUR. WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU COME TO ALMOST A STOP. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. KEY IN JEEP DEATH WOBBLE INTO ANY SEARCH ENGINE OR YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR A LENGHTY LIST OF DISCUSSION ON THIS SUBJECT. I MYSELF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COR…

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2004 JEEP WRANGLER DEATH WOBBLE. FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING POTHOLES AT 45 TO 70 MILES AND HOUR. WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU COME TO ALMOST A STOP. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. KEY IN JEEP DEATH WOBBLE INTO ANY SEARCH ENGINE OR YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR A LENGHTY LIST OF DISCUSSION ON THIS SUBJECT. I MYSELF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT PERMANENTLY WITH STABILIZERS, NEW TIRES, ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCING AND STEERING COMPONENT TIGHTENING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. THIS IS A STOCK JEEP, NO LIFT, STANDARD SIZE TIRES. THIS IS NOT ONE INCIDENT, BUT AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NEW TIRES HAVE FIXED IT TEMPORARILY ONCE, NEW STEERING STABILZER FIXED IT TEMPORARILY ONCE, NEW SWAY BAR ALSO DID A SHORT TEMP FIX. I NEED A PERMANENT FIX AS DO MANY MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344546

49,000 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Steering

THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP RUBICON WITH JUST UNDER 49,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SOON AFTER THE JEEP STARTED THE DEATH WOBBLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANT FIND A SINGLE PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO BIG O TIRES AND THEY PUT NE…

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THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 2004 JEEP RUBICON WITH JUST UNDER 49,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SOON AFTER THE JEEP STARTED THE DEATH WOBBLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANT FIND A SINGLE PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO BIG O TIRES AND THEY PUT NEW STEERING STABILIZER AND DRAG LINK, ONLY FIXED IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THE JEEP JUST SITS NOW WITH BRAND NEW TIRES, NEW STABILIZER, AND NEW DRAG LINK, I HAVE JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT, STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT AND I CAN ONLY TRUST TO DRIVE IT TO THE MAIL BOX AND BACK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL IS TO BRAKE TO A DEAD STOP BEFORE THE JEEP STOPS SHAKING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED, I HAVE BEEN THINKING TO JUST STOP MAKING THE PAYMENTS AND LETTING IT GET REPOED? WHAT SHOULD OR WHAT CAN BE DONE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343837

35,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Suspension

VIOLENT FRONT END WOBBLING EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE BUMP. TO STOP THE WOBBLING I HIT THE BRAKES AND IT STOPS UNTIL ANOTHER BUMP IS HIT. BALANCED AND ROTATED THE TIRES, REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND NEW TIRES, THIS HELPED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS AND NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334975

Official recalls

1

04V048000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A RECENT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE OWNER WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION FOR THEIR VEHICLE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED TIRE CERTIFICATION LABEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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