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2005 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Wrangler years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler are substantially higher than the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

533 reports with mileage · 117 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 346 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

10 reports
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75,000 miles · Jun 9, 2019
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. FOR THE LAST 10+ YEARS MY ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE 5-7 TIMES. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A SHOP - THEY HAVE TEST DRIVEN IT BUT NO STICKING. LAST WEDNESDAY (5/22) AT A 4 WAY STOP SIGN MY ACCELERATOR STUCK AGAIN AT FULL THROTTLE & I HIT A CAR. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT I W…

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: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. FOR THE LAST 10+ YEARS MY ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE 5-7 TIMES. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A SHOP - THEY HAVE TEST DRIVEN IT BUT NO STICKING. LAST WEDNESDAY (5/22) AT A 4 WAY STOP SIGN MY ACCELERATOR STUCK AGAIN AT FULL THROTTLE & I HIT A CAR. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT I WAS GIVEN A CITATION WITH WITNESSES TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING STUCK. THE MAN AT THE SHOP TOLD ME HIS JEEP WRANGLER HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED JEEP CORPORATION & FILED A REPORT (CASE [XXX]) WITH A WORKER "ALY". SHE TOLD ME TO PARK MY JEEP AND AN INSPECTOR WOULD BE THERE TO INVESTIGATE. THAT WAS MORE THAN A WEEK AGO & 5 CALLS TO 1-877-426-5337. CAN YOU HELP ME? MY INSURANCE CO. WANTS ME TO GET ESTIMATES FOR MY DAMAGE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DRIVE ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING & NOT BEING INSPECTED BY JEEP RECALL INSPECTORS. PLEASE HELP ME...'. (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI #11218770

50,000 miles · May 3, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

'DEATH WOBBLE" THE JEEP SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY BETWEEN 50 AND 55 MPH MAKING SPEED AND STEERING VERY HARD TO CONTROL. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT. BEEN TO MANY JEEP MECHANICS.

NHTSA ODI #10862847

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2012
SteeringUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I HIT SPEEDS OF 50MPH, MY JEEP WOBBLES TERRIBLY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND IT EVEN HAS A NAME, THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WE ARE GOING TO PASS THE JEEP ONTO OUR 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO BE RECALLED OR IF IT IS FIXABLE. I WOULD HATE ANYTHING TO HAPP…

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WHEN I HIT SPEEDS OF 50MPH, MY JEEP WOBBLES TERRIBLY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND IT EVEN HAS A NAME, THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WE ARE GOING TO PASS THE JEEP ONTO OUR 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO BE RECALLED OR IF IT IS FIXABLE. I WOULD HATE ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO OUR DAUGHTER, ESPECIALLY IF JEEP IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM,

NHTSA ODI #10472201

116,937 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) INITIALLY FELT AS THOUGH IT WERE STUCK, AS IF THERE WAS A BLOCK UNDER IT, WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 2 PARKED CARS DID THE VEHICLE COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10435916

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP UNLIMITED WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS IT SURGES OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT DOES IT IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTION. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM W…

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 JEEP UNLIMITED WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS IT SURGES OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT DOES IT IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTION. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING ONCE I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD,AS SMALL AS THE REFLECTORS THAT LINE THE MIDDLE OF STREETS. THERE ARE TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SO HARD THAT I HAVE TO LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY HAVE REPLACED MY STEERING STABILIZER ARM,I'VE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED I'VE REPLACED THE BRAKES.REPLACING THE STABILIZER ARM SEEMED TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. MY OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS LOVLEY DEATH TRAP OF MINE IS WHEN I RUN THE A/C THE WHOLE THING BOGS DOWN LIKE I'M PULLING AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER OUT OF A DITCH. THE DEALERSHIP SOLUTION WAS TO COME IN AND TEST DRIVE ANOTHER JEEP TO SEE IF I "ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM". WHEN I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY KEEP IT FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE.MY ADVICE TO OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THESE PROBLEMS IS TO ALWAYS TAKE THE BACK ROADS AND ALWAYS LEAVE A CAR LENGTH OF SPACE ALL THE WAY AROUND YOUR JEEP, AND NEVER USE THE A/C!THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND MY JEEP JUST ROLLED OVER32,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204306

7,000 miles · Sep 27, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN SHE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AS IF SHE SLAMMED HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN SHE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AS IF SHE SLAMMED HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY ADVISING HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10204298

15,000 miles · Jul 24, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LEAPED FORWARD. APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD BUT DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE VEHICLE'S RPM. SUDDEN ACCELERATIO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LEAPED FORWARD. APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD BUT DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE VEHICLE'S RPM. SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED PERIODICALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, MAKE A TURN, OR WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED

NHTSA ODI #10163339

100 miles · Jan 10, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IDLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE RPMS STAY AT 12,000 AND DID NOT DROP LOWER. THE VEHICLE LURCHED WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. ALTHOUGH, THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10147364

2,500 miles · Oct 13, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

YESTERDAY I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE. I WAS NOT PRESSING THE PEDAL ACTIVELY, BUT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE JEEP SURGED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE GAS PEDAL, YET THE JEEP REVVED AND MOVED ABOUT A FOOT. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND IT STOPPED, BUT TOOK A SECOND TO REV BACK DOWN…

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YESTERDAY I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE. I WAS NOT PRESSING THE PEDAL ACTIVELY, BUT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE JEEP SURGED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE GAS PEDAL, YET THE JEEP REVVED AND MOVED ABOUT A FOOT. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND IT STOPPED, BUT TOOK A SECOND TO REV BACK DOWN. THE ENGINE WAS COLD AS IT HAD NOT BEEN STARTED IN 4 DAYS AND I WAS ONLY ABOUT 1 MINUTE INTO THE DRIVE. HAS ANYONE HAD THIS HAPPEN? ANYONE KNOW THE CAUSE? THE JEEP IS A 2005 RUBICON, AUTOMATIC. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 3 TIMES. TWICE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COLD, ONCE WHILE WARM AFTER AN HOUR LONG DRIVE. EACH TIME IT OCCURRED WHILE THE RPM LOAD WAS VERY LOW. TWICE AT A STOP SIGN, ONCE WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I POSTED ON A RUBICON MESSAGE BOARD TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD SEEN THIS AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSES: "WHEN I PULL INTO MY DRIVE, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE AND DEEP AZ RAIN GUTTERS, IF I SLOW ENOUGH TO AVOID SLAMMING THE BUMP STOPS I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY UP. ON THE OCCASIONS THAT I TRY TO IDLE UP I HAVE GOTTEN THE SURGE WHICH LAUNCHES ME INTO THE GARAGE THE FIRST TIME I WAS STOPPED BY MY WORK BENCH SAYING HELLO TO MY BRUSH GUARD" "YES, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES. I HAVE AN 05 RUBICON WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION...." "I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THAT. MY '05 AUTO DOES THE SAME THING, REAR ENDED A CAR THE FIRST TIME IT DID IT...." "MINE WILL DO THAT SOMETIMES GOING UP MY DRIVEWAY INTO THE GARAGE. I HAVE TO TAKE IT SLOW TO GET IT LINED UP PERFECTLY AND THAT IS WHEN IT HAPPENS..." "MINE DID THIS A FEW TIMES A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THEY FOUND NO ISSUES...." AND A LINK TO THE POST: HTTP://WWW.RUBICONOWNERSFORUM.COM/PHPBB2/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?P=238239#238239

NHTSA ODI #10139539

11 miles · May 4, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELARATOR PEDAL FELT NOTCHY AND STUCK DOWN UPON DELIVERY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. HOWEVER, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S CARPET WAS PROTRUDING, OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL. CARPET NEEDED TO BE SECURED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER OBSTRUCTION.

NHTSA ODI #10119878

Official recalls

1

05V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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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