Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Jeep Wrangler engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Jeep Wrangler have filed 75 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
75
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Wrangler | 17 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 26 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 23 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 106 |
| 2013 Wrangler (this page) | 75 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 263 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 85 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 54 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 44 |
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 75 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 75 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY (with mileage above 30,000) review and follow instructions from STAR Online S1809000007 REV. C available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Wrangler's 3.6L Pentastar engine generates a consistent stream of owner complaints across multiple failure modes that Chrysler acknowledges but refuses to address uniformly. Unplanned stalling without warning is the most dangerous complaint—owners describe repeated incidents at highway speeds where the engine cuts power, then restarts after 5–15 minutes. Dealers have replaced PCMs, reflashed software, and calibrated throttles without permanent resolution.
Cylinder head warping is endemic. Owners report misfires on cylinders 2, 4, and 6 stemming from galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals in the engine block and head, causing compression loss. A dealer confirms this is a known issue; Jeep acknowledges it but refuses warranty if a vehicle's VIN isn't on the approved list. Rocker arm and valve lifter degradation causes ticking that progresses to misfiring and stalling. One dealer handles 5–10 rocker arm replacements weekly; parts are on two-month backorder.
Oil system failures are frequent and hazardous. The plastic oil filter housing cracks during normal operation or routine oil changes, dumping oil onto the transmission and exhaust—creating fire risk. One owner's housing failure cascaded into total engine seizure, requiring $4000 replacement. Casting sand from poor manufacturing contaminates coolant early in the engine's life, choking off heat flow. Overall, owners describe a pattern of design and manufacturing defects Jeep knows about but leaves owners to fund.
Same Jeep Wrangler engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Unplanned stalling and no-start events
Engine stalls without warning at various speeds, sometimes requiring 5-15 minutes before restart. Owners report repeated stalling after dealer repairs (PCM replacement, software updates, throttle calibration), with no codes or intermittent codes appearing.
When: Various mileages: 30K, 50K, 90K, 118K miles; incidents reported from 2016-2017
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power while driving at highway and local road speeds; No warning lights or codes on some occasions; check engine light with no stored codes on others; Vehicle restarts after sitting 5-15 minutes; Repeated stalling after dealer repairs
Codes mentioned: No codes in many cases, P0520 (oil pressure sensor circuit malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced PCM (no permanent fix), reflashed software, calibrated throttle, performed reflashing of control modules; owners also replaced battery ($250) without success
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers performed multiple repairs without resolution; no recall issued
Cylinder head warping and compression loss
Cylinder heads warp due to galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals (engine block and cylinder head), causing compression loss and misfires. Occurs on all 3.6L Pentastar engines across multiple FCA vehicle platforms. Owners report Jeep acknowledges the defect but refuses warranty coverage if VIN not on manufacturer's list.
When: Starting around 55K-99K miles; known issue from engine design; Service Bulletin #S1309000016 and TSB 09-002-14 Rev. B exist
Symptoms owners cite: Misfire codes on cylinders 2, 4, 6 (repeated); Check engine light; Rough idle at traffic lights and low speeds; Loss of compression in specific cylinders; Engine hesitation
Codes mentioned: P0306 (cylinder 6 misfire), P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder head replacement $3000-3700; dealers confirm warped heads after pulling engine apart; owners report head replacements have repeated (one owner had heads replaced twice before 50K miles); Maxcare warranty denied coverage after repeated failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep acknowledges defect if VIN on approved list; refuses warranty if VIN not listed; TSB issued but no recall; owners tell of multiple dealers per week performing this repair
Rocker arm and valve lifter failure
Rocker arm bearings and valve lifters degrade prematurely due to improper hardening of bearing material. Causes ticking noise from engine; no diagnostic codes appear. Common across all Pentastar 3.6L engines in Jeeps, Dodge Chargers, Chrysler 300s, minivans, and other FCA models. One dealer reports 5-10 rocker arm replacements per week.
When: 60K-84K miles; ticking first heard, failure confirmed upon disassembly
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking or rattling noise from top of engine; Ticking increases with engine speed; No diagnostic codes; Loss of fuel economy (owner noted as early sign); Misfiring and stalling as wear progresses
Repairs/costs cited: Rocker arm and lifter replacement $2400+; one owner paid $2400 for camshaft, lifters, and associated repair at 65K miles; parts on 2-month backorder per owner reports; dealers confirm high replacement volume
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler provided technical bulletins for visual identification but refuses extended warranty or recall; dealers handling dozens per month but no manufacturer assistance
Oil filter housing cracking and leaking
Plastic oil filter housing cracks or breaks during normal use or routine oil changes, causing rapid oil loss. Leak path runs down transmission and driveline. Can occur below 30K miles. Owners report it as widespread issue with plastic housing in poor location between engine bays.
When: Under 30K-105K miles; sometimes triggered by oil change, sometimes spontaneous
Symptoms owners cite: Large oil leak from engine onto ground; Oil smell from engine; Low oil warning light; Excessive oil on motor; Oil dripping on transmission and exhaust
Repairs/costs cited: Housing replacement $237-$800 (dealership labor adds significant cost); dealer blamed over-tightening but owners used torque wrench to spec; one owner reported only 10-cent O-ring was faulty inside $237 unit; 2014 models received redesigned unit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report warranty coverage under 100K-mile warranty if caught early; others denied when dealer blamed user error; no manufacturer-wide recall or redesign mandate
Oil cooler/engine cooler failure with fire hazard
Oil cooler assembly cracks or fails, releasing engine oil onto hot engine block, transmission, and exhaust system. Creates imminent fire hazard. Owner reports one instance where engine blew due to rapid oil loss from housing failure. Plastic construction with no heat shield between engine bays amplifies risk.
When: 70K-90K miles (repeat failures noted at same vehicle); one catastrophic failure caused engine seizure and complete engine replacement needed
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light with overheating; Engine oil leaking onto transmission and exhaust; Burning smell; Engine overheating under load; Smoke from engine bay
Repairs/costs cited: Housing replacement $3000 labor+parts; one owner faced $4000 complete engine replacement after oil loss caused seizure; repair cost ~$800 per failure; parts availability issue noted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued; manufacturer claims plastic design is acceptable; owners report multiple failures on same vehicle with no fix
Defective oil pressure sensor (P0520)
Oil pressure sensors installed at factory are defective and set trouble code P0520. Per TSB 18-034-14 Rev. A, a 'revised' part exists, but manufacturer only replaces under warranty. If sensor malfunctions out of warranty, driver loses critical oil pressure warning and risks engine failure.
When: 2013-2014 model years; sensor failure out of warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Engine running rough; Possible loss of power
Codes mentioned: P0520 (Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Circuit)
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement with 'revised' part; only covered under warranty per TSB 18-034-14 Rev. A
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-034-14 Rev. A issued; warranty-only replacement policy; no extended coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles
Unintended high idle and loss of braking control
Engine RPM surges unexpectedly to 2500+ at low speed without throttle input, requiring extreme brake pressure to stop. Occurs when engine is warm at low speed. One incident caused tire squeal. Putting vehicle in neutral stops the surge. Problem recurs despite multiple dealer visits.
When: Approximately one year of ownership; warm engine condition at low speed
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled RPM increase to 2500+; Requires full brake pedal pressure; Tire squeal from brake override attempt; Surge stops when shifted to neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer visits yielded no resolution; floor mats checked and secured; throttle position confirmed normal operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to identify or fix root cause after two visits
Excessive oil consumption with limp mode
Engine consumes more than one quart per 250 miles. Combined with overheating under load on climbs, triggers 'limp mode' (3000 RPM governor). Occurs despite dealer replacing valve tappets, left camshaft, and left cylinder head under Maxcare warranty. Warranty coverage now disputed by Jeep customer care.
When: Failure mileage not stated; recurring condition requiring multiple repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive oil consumption (>1 qt/250 mi); Overheating on long climbs under load; Check engine light when oil drops ~3 quarts below full; Sudden loss of power, RPM limited to 3000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced valve tappets, left camshaft, left cylinder head; problem persists; Maxcare warranty coverage now questioned by manufacturer (Case #32175924)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Maxcare warranty approved initial repairs but now disputing coverage for continued failures
Casting sand contamination in coolant
Engine block or cylinder head sand casting residue contaminates coolant system, restricting flow through heater core and reducing heating output. Occurs very early in engine life (28K miles reported). Even after coolant flush, contamination returns.
When: As early as 28K miles; detected on coolant inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally colored coolant; Heater blows only cool air even at operating temperature; Reduced defrosting capability; Sand particles visible in coolant after flush
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant flush performed but sand reappears; suggests manufacturing defect in casting process
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repairs (coolant flush) performed, but defect recurs; no manufacturing change noted
Pressure relief valve plastic component failure
Plastic pressure relief valve component inside oil filter adapter breaks during normal operation. Pieces go missing; remaining plastic fragments risk migration through oil system and potential catastrophic engine damage per TSB 09-009-18.
When: Discovered during routine oil change
Symptoms owners cite: Broken plastic pressure relief valve discovered during oil change; Missing valve pieces
Repairs/costs cited: Oil filter adapter replacement required to prevent engine damage from migrating plastic fragments
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 09-009-18 issued describing the failure mode and required repair
Synthesized from 75 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Ticking noise from engine
The car began to idle roughly--it would rattle and shake just sitting at a red light. If I tried to just roll the vehicle slightly forward, it would stutter. Check engine light came on, but the manual informs to wait a few drive cycles to see if it will just turn off. Pulled the diagnostic code (p0306) and it was a cylinder 6 misfire issue. Took car in on 9 dec 2014 and the entire left cylinder…
Failure of oil cooler housing, noticed oil burning smell looked under the Jeep and saw oil everywhere
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Jeep Wrangler?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Jeep Wrangler?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 75 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 57 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 51,000 and 93,635 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 93,635. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Jeep/Wrangler.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.