Total Complaints
7 filings
JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 · model year
2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009JEEPWRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 is steering with 3 filings, followed by suspension (2) and fuel/propulsion system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 29 investigation files overlapping the 2009 WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2, and 3 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150728ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THIS CAR HAS WHAT YOU CALL THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE ORIGINAL PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, MAKING IT A TOTAL OF THREE SAME PARTS. IT IS A 2009 BUT ONLY HAS 27000 MILES ON IT. THE INCIDENT ALWAYS HAPPENED HIGHWAY DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR. FELT LIKE A FLAT TIRE THEN SETTLED DOWN. NOT SURE OF THE PART NAME REPLACED TWICE, BUT IT IS I BELIEVE IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. OF COURSE BOTH TIMES REPLACED NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN HENCE THE NAME DEATH WOBBLE.
Mileage: 23,000
20150401FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN FILLING GAS TANK, GASOLINE "BURPS OR SPITSBACK" OUT OF THE VEHICLES GAS TANK AFTER THE FUEL HOSE HAS CLICKED OFF. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL SPILLS ONTO THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE AND GROUND. TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING I ONLY FILL MY TANK WITH 15 GALLONS AFTER THE LOW FUEL LIGHT HAS COME ON. *TR
Mileage: 25,000
20150215STEERING
EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH; SITUATION COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. INSPECTION REVEALED A LEAKING STEERING STABILIZER WHICH WAS PROMPTLY REPLACED. SITUATION RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER AND THE STABILIZER WAS AGAIN LEAKING. ANOTHER STABILIZER WAS INSTALLED. SITUATION RECURRED AGAIN AFTER 3 WEEKS BUT THE STABILIZER WAS NOT LEAKING. THE TRACK BAR WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE MOUNTING BOLTS AND THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ROTATED. SITUATION RECURRED WITHIN 24 HOURS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND ALIGNED THE FRONTEND. SITUATION RETURNED LATER THAT DAY AND REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. SITUATION RECURRED WITHIN 24 HOURS AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SITUATION CURRENTLY UNRESOLVED. *TR
Mileage: 84,500
20150215SUSPENSION
EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH; SITUATION COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. INSPECTION REVEALED A LEAKING STEERING STABILIZER WHICH WAS PROMPTLY REPLACED. SITUATION RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER AND THE STABILIZER WAS AGAIN LEAKING. ANOTHER STABILIZER WAS INSTALLED. SITUATION RECURRED AGAIN AFTER 3 WEEKS BUT THE STABILIZER WAS NOT LEAKING. THE TRACK BAR WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE MOUNTING BOLTS AND THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ROTATED. SITUATION RECURRED WITHIN 24 HOURS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND ALIGNED THE FRONTEND. SITUATION RETURNED LATER THAT DAY AND REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. SITUATION RECURRED WITHIN 24 HOURS AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SITUATION CURRENTLY UNRESOLVED. *TR
Mileage: 84,500
20110521STEERING
THE FAILURE OF A 2009 JEEP WRANGLER IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE RANGE OF 40MPH TO 65MPH AND YOU GET IN TO A ROUGH SURFACE OR HIT ANY BUMP ON THE ROAD THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE REALLY VIOLENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPEN NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO A LOT OF JEEP OWNERS. THEY ALL SEEM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NEVER ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND ITS GETTING REALLY BAD AND IT COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO END UP DYING. I MYSELF HAVE CHANGED THE PARTS TO MY OWN VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW THE SOLUTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ITS NOT ONLY ME WHO THIS HAS HAPPEN THEIR IS A LOT OF SCARED PEOPLE THAT HAVE RAN INTO THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO WAY OR THE KNOWLEDGE TO ADDRESS IT TO ANYONE. I JUST WANT THIS TO RESOLVE THIS BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN DEATH. *TR
Mileage: 33,000
20100314SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 JEEP WRANGLER AT SPEED OF 45 MPH AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING ALSO AND IT TOOK ALOT TO KEEP THE JEEP IN CONTROL. HAD TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SEEM TO STOP AFTER I PULLED OVER AND I SLOWLY DROVE HOME THE REST OF THE WAY. MY CONCERN IS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEPS AND THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL AND NO REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON THIS JEEP AND IT IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I ALSO HAD MY MOTHER AND 15 YR OLD SON WITH ME AND CAN CONFIRM THIS INCIDENT. *TR
Mileage: 13,933
20100314STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 JEEP WRANGLER AT SPEED OF 45 MPH AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING ALSO AND IT TOOK ALOT TO KEEP THE JEEP IN CONTROL. HAD TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SEEM TO STOP AFTER I PULLED OVER AND I SLOWLY DROVE HOME THE REST OF THE WAY. MY CONCERN IS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR JEEPS AND THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL AND NO REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON THIS JEEP AND IT IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I ALSO HAD MY MOTHER AND 15 YR OLD SON WITH ME AND CAN CONFIRM THIS INCIDENT. *TR
Mileage: 13,933
Compare 2009JEEPWRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 3 Open
PE25014Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
PE24024Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Underhood fires
RQ24012Recall QueryOpen
Loss of Motive Power
PE22013Preliminary EvaluationClosed
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
PE22009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 have?▼
The 2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 is STEERING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2009 JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X2 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.