The Jeep Wrangler is consistently one of Jeep’s best-selling models, and is the indirect successor to the original Willys Jeep of World War II fame, making it a living legend in the United States. In 2024, it sold 151,163 units, but the reason for these consistently strong sales over several decades is not just that it happens to hark back to an icon of the past.

It is also because, as the best SUVs have become more road and family-friendly, the ever-unpretentious Wrangler has stayed true to its brief of being the most rugged and dependable off-roader that enables you to go just about anywhere. Given its dependable reputation, how much does it cost to keep one on the road exactly? Continue reading to find out.

The Jeep Wrangler has existed as a model officially since the 1980s, although the first generation was essentially just an updated version of the CJ that had been produced since the 1940s. It caused a massive outcry at the time by replacing the circular lights with square ones, but it still ran on leaf springs. Over the next three generations, the iconic circular lights would return, the leaf springs would be replaced by coil-over ones, a four-door version would become available, as well as many new powertrain options and interior amenities.

As well as different numbers of doors, the Wrangler can be had as a soft-top or a hard-top, and can be powered by a turbo four-cylinder, a V6, a V8, or even a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The level of off-road capability varies from very capable with the base Sport trim, right up to all-conquering with the Rubicon trim. It is this level of choice that makes up for the lack of refinement compared to rivals such as the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco.

While the Jeep Wrangler has many good years for reliability, it also has some years that were affected by some of the problems listed below, reported by owners to the likes of the NHTSA and Car Complaints. Jeep Wrangler repair costs will vary depending on the severity of the issue and where you take your vehicle for service.

This issue affects the 2007 to 2017 model years, and concerns the TPIM, which stands for “Totally Integrated Power Module,” and it houses all the important fuses and power relays on the car. If it fails, the car won’t start due to the fuel pump not coming on, or other electrical functions like the air conditioning or wipers will shut off due to the battery being drained. This issue usually requires a replacement of the TPIM, which, according to Car Complaints, typically costs $1,330.

The Wrangler has suffered from engine issues in more than one generation. One of the troubled engines that has caused enough problems to be mentioned here is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that, due to oil leaks from the valve cover gasket or timing cover gasket, could misfire or completely shut off. This mainly affected the 2012 to 2014 model years, but was enough for Fiat-Chrysler to get slapped with a class-action lawsuit.

Another Wrangler engine issue concerns the hybrid powertrain in the Wrangler 4xe. The hybrid system could sometimes stall without warning, leading to sudden and potentially dangerous deceleration. According to the NHTSA, a recall was issued for the 2021–2023 models to address this.

Another one of the problems the Wrangler (as well as other Jeep SUVs) is known for suffering from is known as death wobble with the steering. It involves the steering wheel shaking, sometimes uncontrollably, and is most likely to occur due to not checking the alignment of the suspension, or faulty ball joints, or tie rod ends. This problem is not specific to any one generation but is most prevalent in the third-generation Wrangler, and according to Car Complaints, it usually occurs after 3,650 miles.

There have been numerous faults with the airbags in the Jeep Wrangler, mainly in the third generation, leading to recalls and many complaints to the NHTSA. Issues with the airbag include the inflator bags exploding, the clock spring failing, leading to non-deployment, or a faulty sensor causing the airbag warning light to keep going on and off. Replacing the clock spring or, in the case of explosions, a recall that involved replacing the airbag inflator would be the main remedies for these issues.

An issue that seems to affect both the second and third generations of Wrangler is that of water leaking between the windshield and A-pillars, at the front edge of either the driver's or passenger doors. This can be due to deteriorating seals or seals with gaps. This has been mentioned on many Jeep forums and is also the most complained-about issue on RepairPal, with 238 complaints.

When it comes to Jeep Wrangler maintenance costs, unfortunately, there is a price to be paid for all that off-road ability and that iconic war-winning silhouette, as the maintenance costs are above average for cars in the off-roading segment. While it is possible to reduce the financial woes by sticking to the Jeep Wrangler service schedule and nipping any repairs that need doing in the bud, it is important to have the full picture.

The costs that you see above give an outline of what you can expect to pay to maintain the Wrangler, and according to Car Edge, the industry average 10-year cost for an SUV model is $8,208, so doing the math, the Jeep Wrangler maintenance cost over 10 years is $3,456 above average. Provided none of the common problems rear their ugly head, the annual maintenance cost is mostly made up of routine things like oil change, replacing the air filter, tire rotation, coolant change, and wiper blade replacement.

There may, of course, be other things that need doing, or are a good idea to prolong the life of your off-roader, avoiding a costly Jeep Wrangler repair, further down the line. One of these is a preventative measure known as a tune-up, which for a Jeep Wrangler, costs on average, $456, according to RepairPal. Annual repair costs also start to rack up after the first 10 years of ownership. The Jeep Wrangler 100k mile service cost will, of course, vary depending on the location of the service provider, but according to Car Edge, it consists of rotating the tires, lubricating the ball joints, a cooling system flush, and changing oil and filter.

Taking into account the generation where most of the common problems have occurred, as well as the year with the most recalls and complaints on the NHTSA and car complaints, the third-generation Wrangler wins, or should that be loses, in this regard. Some of the issues might have cropped up in earlier generations and haven’t completely gone away in the latest generation, but this one is the worst hit by them and also has some unique problems.

According to Car Complaints, the model years 2007-2011 were most affected by the death wobble, and after this, TPIM failure became more prevalent, with 2012 being the worst year for electrical issues. This generation also saw the most severe recall for the Jeep Wrangler relating to the passenger frontal airbag, which, if it were to explode, could cause fatal injuries. If you are going to choose a third-gen or JK Wrangler, it is important to make sure that the correct Jeep Wrangler service and repairs have been carried out.

All in all, there is a price to be paid for that Jeep name, as there are a fair few reliability issues to look out for and, as mentioned earlier, the Wrangler does have an above-average maintenance cost when compared with other cars in its class. Provided you look carefully for a model that isn’t likely to cost loads in repairs, you will be getting a rugged, dependable off-roader that should provide you with adventures for many years.

Jeep, JD Power, RepairPal, Car Edge, NHTSA, Car Complaints, Jeepforum.