2005 Jeep Wrangler
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel system is the leading concern among 650 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Wrangler model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 10 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 15 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulicMar 13, 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
Campaign 06E022000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 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.
IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 05V460000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Apr 24, 2011
6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FORKS ARE POORLY DESIGNED. VEHICLE CAN POP OUT OF 1ST GEAR STARTING AT UNDER 15K MILES. CAN LEAD TO VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WHEN PARKED IN GEAR AS WELL AS ROLLING BACK WHEN STARTING ON HILLS. MY VEHICLE HAD THE PROBLEM ALREADY AT ABOUT 90K WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NO IDEA HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. MANY REPORTS INDICATE THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AT AS EARLY AS 15K DUE TO DESIGN. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WHILE IT IS NICE TO BE PAID TO REPLACE THESE PARTS REGULARLY, IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
Power train, Jan 5, 2011
I WAS TOWING MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER WHEN A PASSING MOTORIST SIGNALED ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE JEEP WHICH WAS COVERED WITH AN OILY MATERIAL. I HAD A TOW TRUCK TOW THE JEEP TO SAN MARCOS CHRYSLER/JEEP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REBUILD THE FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS AND REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE AND BOTH FRONT AXLES. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS CAUSED BY HAVING A ONE SIZE LARGER TIRE ON THE FRONT TIRES THAN THE BACK TIRES. THIS WOULD ONLY CAUSE THE PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHICH IT NEVER WAS. *TR
Power train, Jul 26, 2010, crash
2006 GMC SIERRA, WAS TOWING A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER USING A TOW BAR. THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE JEEP ENGAGED CAUSING THE WHEELS OF THE JEEP TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE IN TOW SPUN AROUND, TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE JEEP STRUCK THE CONCRETE WALL AND ROLLED OVER AND BROKE FREE OF UNIT 1.*BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0435-90)*JB UPDATED 08/06/10 *BF
Power train, May 10, 2009
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER SINCE JANUARY, 2006. WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK AT IT THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN MY JEEP AT MY COST AND IT STILL POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY RAN INTO ME. THE DEALERSHIP AS I KNOW NOW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT WANT TO FIX IT. MY JEEP IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THANKS ALOT. *TR
Power train, Apr 10, 2009
MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN MY JEEP, AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, HARD TO PULL OUT OF FIRST, AND GRINDING DURING UP SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT COME UP WITH FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE CAN BE HAZARDOUS, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC, YOU CAN'T BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR. *TR
Power train, Feb 25, 2008
MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS SLAMMED INTO ME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE SHIFTERS AND THE SYNCHRONIZERS, IT STILL DOES THIS, THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY TRYING TO REPAIR IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. COULD BE DEADLY IF YOU ARE PULLING OUT OR IF IT IS PARKED AND POPS OUT OF GEAR. *TR
Power train, Jul 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT THE OTHER GEARS OPERATE NORMALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROW OUT BEARING, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,461 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Power train, Apr 12, 2007
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION / ENGINE FLARE. CAN BE ANTICIPATED AND VEHICLE MOVEMENT PREVENTED IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, HIGH RANGE BUT WILL OVERPOWER BRAKES WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE , LOW RANGE. OCCURRENCE NOT CONSISTENT OR REPEATABLE ON DEMAND BUT IS FREQUENT. CAN OCCUR WITH APPLICATION (OR RELEASE) OF POWER BRAKE, TURNING OF STEERING WHEEL (POWER STEERING) OR AIR CONDITION CYCLING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN TECHNICAL TRAIL MANEUVERS (OFF ROAD CONDITIONS IN TREACHEROUS TERRAIN) OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TREES, LARGE ROCKS, ABRUPT DROP-OFFS ALONG ROAD, THE RESULTS ARE POTENTIALLY DEADLY. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY ANY, NON FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE AS THIS IS A PROGRAMMING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNIQUE. THE "DEALER" IS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOM. *JB
Power train, Mar 17, 2006
MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN GRINDING AND POPPING OUT OF REVERSE SINCE PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2005. RECENTLY TRANSMISSION WAS POPPING OUT OF FORWARD DRIVE GEARS AND FAILING TO ENGAGE. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO REVERSE, POPPING OUT OF 3RD, GRINDING IN 5TH AND GENERALLY VERY NOISY. REVERSE SHAFT AND GEAR, COUNTER SHAFT AND SYNCHRONIZERS ALL SEVERELY WORN OUT. METAL CHUNKS WERE FOUND THROUGHOUT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED. *JB
Power train, Visibility, Mar 9, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS WHICH OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IT SLIPPED TO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS A WHIRLING NOISE PRESENT WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE AND A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE OTHER GEARS. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE GEAR LEAKAGES AND DETERMINED THE TAB ON THE FAN BLOWER HAD BROKEN AND WAS CAUSING THE WHIRLING NOISE. THE BLOWER FAN IS GOING TO BE REPLACED.
Power train, Mar 3, 2006
RECEIVED LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL E14. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERS AT 8:30 AM ON DAY OF APPOINTMENT. WENT TO PICK UP AT 4:30 PM (ON A FRIDAY) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEVER GOT AROUND TO FIXING IT. "TOO BUSY". I WASTED AN ENTIRE DAY AND SOMEONE'S ELSE'S TIME GETTING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BACK. NO TIME WAS GIVEN AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I LEFT THE DEALER. I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN CASE SOMETIMES DOES HAPPEN WITH VEHICLE THAT CAUSES DAMAGE, INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH. VEHICLE IS A JEEP WRANGLER VIN # LJ4FA9S95P316220. DEALER: GALEANA CHRYSLER JEEP, 14735 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, FORT MYERS, FL 33912. PH 239-481-2600. *JB
Power train, Oct 9, 2005
SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS GOING INTO REVERSE/ POPS OUT OF REVERSE. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED TECHNICAL BULLETIN STATING THIS CONDITION WILL LEAD TO AN EVENTUAL LOSS OF FORWARD DRIVE GEARS IF NOT CORRECTED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS NOT REPAIRED. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Sep 11, 2005
NORMAL DRIVING RESULTS IN A CHANGE IN THE SHIFTING ACTION OF THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. IF THE VEHICLE IS WARM THE ELECTRONIC BUZZ LENGTHENS AND PREVENTS THE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR POSITION TO THE NEXT. THE TRANSMISSION RUMBLES AND SKIPS BEFORE CHANGING TO THE NEXT GEAR FOR A SECOND OR MORE. THE GEARS CLEARLY ARE NOT ENGAGING IN A TIMELY MANNER AND PREVENTS READY MOVEMENT AFTER SHIFTING TO A NEW GEAR POSITION. AFTER LONG DRIVES THIS IS NOTICEABLE DURING NORMAL UNHURRIED PARKING MANEUVERS. THIS ACTION WAS INITIALLY OBSERVED AT ABOUT 384 MILES ON ODOMETER AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. THE SECOND PROBLEMS HAS OCCURRED ON 5 OR MORE OCCASIONS WHERE THE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT GO TO NORMAL AFTER REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. WAS FIRST NOTICED ON HILLS IN CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND HAS BEEN NOTICED IN TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE NOISE IS QUITE AUDIBLE WHEN THIS OCCURS AND IDLES ABOVE 1000 AND CARRIES VEHICLE AT 10 PLUS MPH ON FLAT SURFACES. THE VEHICLE ALSO SURGES AFTER SHORT DRIVES AND IS NOTICEABLE IN PARKING LOTS OR GARAGE PARKING. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE "DANGEROUS" INSTANCES WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS WILL OCCUR IN BOTH REVERSE AND FORWARD DRIVES. THE DRIVE TRAIN ALSO HAS A LOUD RESONATING SOUND WHICH SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE ROTATING IS NOT UNIFORM AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL SOUND. ALL OF THESE CONCERNS WERE OBSERVED AFTER ABOUT 300 MILES AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. THE DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HEARING THE GEAR SOUNDS, SAID THE IDLE WOULD ADJUST AFTER 3600 MILES AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE SURGING. *NM
Power train, Aug 5, 2005
2005 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT. PURCHASED 4/17/2005. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM 4RD TO 3RD AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST WITHOUT CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING, THEN REMAINS IN 1ST GEAR AND NO LONGER SHIFTS. 5 DAYS IN SHOP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. 3200 MILES ON VEHICLE. DANGER OF POSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IS IMMINENT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WITHOUT CONTROL. PROBABLE CAUSE OF MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO TIMES.. GOING BACK TO SHOP. NO DTC CODE AVAILABLE. *JB
Power train, May 19, 2005
2005 JEEP WRANGLER PURCHASED 4/13. ON 4/12 TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN SHOP FOR PAST 8 DAYS. DEALER STATES POSSIBLE BAD SEALS. LESS THAN 600 MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO VEHICLE SOLD WITHOUT RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS NOW PENDING RECALL WORK ON CAMSHAFT AND OIL PUMP.
Power train, Mar 25, 2005
4-WD LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER STATES THAT THEY DID TEST THE VEH AND SAID THAT THE COMPUTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. VEH. HAS LESS THEN 800 MILES ON IT. *AK