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2004 Jeep Wrangler recalls and problems

The 2004 Jeep Wrangler has 1 safety recall and 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Jeep dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
192
Crashes / fires
17 / 7
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1

Recalls may cover only some 2004 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2004 Jeep Wrangler recalls

Recall 04V-048: Equipment

Reported Feb 3, 2004 · 96 vehicles affected · DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Problem: 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.

Risk: The vehicle owner would not be aware of the tire, wheel, and inflation pressure information for their vehicle.

Fix: 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.

2004 Jeep Wrangler problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Steering67
Suspension59
Power Train29
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
Structure13
Electrical System12
Seat Belts12
Visibility11
Engine and Engine Cooling9
Fuel System, Gasoline8
Tires7
Unknown or Other7

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 8
  • Suspension › Front — 8
  • Structure › Body — 6
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor — 6
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 5
  • Seat Belts › Front › Retractor — 5
  • Power Train › Manual Transmission — 4
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 46,192 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2004 Jeep Wrangler complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · reported Apr 15, 2023
My Jeep's frame is rusted. There are holes and cracks in the frame from the rust. The Jeep will not pass my states safety inspection because of the rust. Parts of the suspension that are attached to the frame are about to fall off.
Structure · reported Feb 8, 2023
The frame has been compromised due to rust. The frame rusted from the inside out because the frame was not properly engineered from the factory. There are no weep holes at the lowest point on the frame. This causes water to sit in the frame and rust from the inside out. The rust appears without warning. This is an extremely dangerous because the frame can break without warning and cause loss of control. My vehicle is available to be inspected upon request.
Structure · reported Dec 15, 2022
The frame on the Jeep TJ is prone to rot. Mine is so rusted that body shops refuse to repair it, claiming their insurance won't cover them. My Jeep has 123,233 miles and is otherwise in very good condition, but the frame has rust severe enough to make driving the vehicle unsafe. The Jeep Forum on the Internet is full of similar stories, so Chrysler has known about this problem for many years. You should make them recall the Jeeps and repair or replace the frame. A few years ago Toyota did a similar recall on their small pickup trucks.
Electrical System · at 135,000 miles · reported Sep 23, 2020
Driving while dark, had smoke smell from inside cab. Driving in daylight later, and saw smoke coming from behind steering colomn. Smoke got much worse, endangered driving, and column started to get hot. Pulled over, and noticed the fog lights were still on despite the switch, and key being off. Pulled the fuse, and relay, then problem stopped. I removed the turn signal switch assembly, which also houses the head lights and fog light switches, and found the connector overheated, and shorted internally. While waiting for a replacement switch, the turn signals and flashers quit working. I tried a…
Steering · at 67,000 miles · reported Mar 11, 2020
Hit a regular bump in the road, at 35 miles per hour on a strait stretch of road and the attachment point for the front suspension pulled away from the frame and I lost control of the jeep, upon further inspection I discovered that the entire center section of the frame is rusted from the inside out on both sides, the frame should be the last thing to fail on any vehicle, this jeep has only 65,000 miles on it and has never been off roaded or abused. For a vehicle that is known to last 200k miles plus to have frame failure at 65k miles is not only negligent on chryslers behalf but it also poses…

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Jeep Wrangler have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2004 Jeep Wrangler: 04V-048 (equipment). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Jeep Wrangler?

Owners report steering problems most often (67 reports), followed by suspension (59). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 46,192 miles.

Are Jeep recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Jeep dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.