"Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On "
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Jeep Wrangler engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Jeep Wrangler have filed 44 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 55,000 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
44
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Wrangler | 75 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 263 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 85 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 54 |
| 2017 Wrangler (this page) | 44 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 45 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 14 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 29 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 53 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 44 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Jeep Wrangler, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 44 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 3 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.
Suspected Engine Coolant Leak
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Suspected Engine Coolant Leak
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Suspected engine coolant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Oil cooler and oil filter housing failures dominate the complaint profile. Owners report the plastic components cracking or warping, typically between 31,000 and 84,000 miles, causing substantial oil leaks that pool under the vehicle, run down the engine, and splash onto hot exhaust—creating a stated fire hazard. Repair costs cited range from $1,000 to $2,500+, with multiple owners noting parts shortages and backorders lasting weeks to months. Owners report dealers acknowledging these as widespread failures on the 3.6L Pentastar engine, and many cite hundreds of aftermarket alternatives available online.
Misfire and cylinder head failures also appear frequently—cylinder compression loss, cracks in cylinder heads, and misfires (cylinders 2, 3, 4, and 6 cited) occur at relatively low mileage (47,000 to 84,000 miles). Several owners report check engine lights followed by diagnosis of failed cylinder heads; one notes Jeep previously recalled this on older model years.
Radiator failures with small holes are reported on low-mileage vehicles. One engine fire occurred under the hood with no prior warning signs. Stalling without warning and ECM failures rounding out the electrical/drivability issues reported.
Same Jeep Wrangler engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Oil cooler cracking/warping
Plastic oil cooler housing cracks or warps from thermal cycling and extreme heat exposure, causing massive oil leaks that run down the intake valley, back of engine, and onto exhaust and frame. Multiple owners report this as a known, widespread defect with the 3.6L Pentastar engine acknowledged by dealers.
When: 31,000 to 84,000 miles; some owners cite below-zero temperatures as triggering factor
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pooling under vehicle; Oil visible on engine and undercarriage; Oil running onto hot exhaust; No warning lights prior to discovery; Sweet antifreeze smell in one case
Repairs/costs cited: $1,000 to $1,200 cited by multiple owners for replacement; parts frequently backordered weeks to months; undercarriage cleaning additional cost; hundreds of aftermarket alternatives available online
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued; dealers acknowledge this as the most common issue on Chrysler/Jeep 3.6L engine; no manufacturer assistance offered in complaints
Oil filter housing/adapter cracking
Plastic oil filter housing assembly cracks or fractures, causing oil leaks. Owners report this as a known, extremely common defect on Jeep Wranglers and other Pentastar 3.6L vehicles. One owner notes the issue was resolved in 2018+ production with a different material.
When: 52,000 to 80,000 miles; one noted under 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from housing; Oil pooling below filter housing; No warning lights before discovery; Oil and coolant mixing in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: $1,000 to $2,500+ cited; parts commonly on national backorder; replacement requires intake manifold removal; oil damage to surrounding components possible
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Parts listed as discontinued with Chrysler restrictions; backorders of 2–3 months reported; one owner offered extended warranty; no recalls issued
Cylinder head cracking/failure
Cylinder heads develop cracks or fail prematurely, causing compression loss and misfires. Owners report this occurred on older model years and was recalled by Jeep, but the issue persists on 2017 models despite an extended warranty program for 2011–2013 models.
When: 47,000 to 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light and misfire codes (cylinders 2, 3, 4, 6 cited); White smoke from exhaust; Abnormal antifreeze odor; Loss of motive power; Low cylinder compression (80 psi vs. normal in other cylinders)
Codes mentioned: P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), Cylinder 3 misfire, Cylinder 4 misfire, Cylinder 6 misfire
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement noted in one case; cylinder head replacement discussed; one owner quoted $1,000+ for head but was advised it will likely recur in another 30k miles or affect another cylinder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty offered for 2011–2013 models; manufacturer stated engine not under warranty in one case and offered no assistance; one owner referred to NHTSA Hotline
Piston failure in cylinder
Piston in cylinder #3 failed prematurely, causing abnormal ticking, significant loss of motive power, and an oil leak underneath the engine.
When: 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal ticking from engine compartment; Significant loss of motive power; Check engine light; Oil leak under engine
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in this complaint; no cost cited
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance
Radiator failure with small hole
Small holes develop in radiator on low-mileage vehicles, causing coolant leaks. Owners report this as a surprising defect on a relatively new vehicle.
When: 3 years old / approximately 3 years into ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sweet antifreeze smell; Coolant leak
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator replacement required; cost not cited
Engine fire
Engine compartment fire occurred with no prior warning signs or check engine lights. Owner saw flames under the hood after smelling smoke during a 2-hour drive.
When: Unknown mileage; no prior failure history reported
Symptoms owners cite: Smell from hood; Smoke from engine compartment; Flames visible under hood; No warning lights or performance issues before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner provided photos to NHTSA; not repaired in this complaint
Stalling without warning
Vehicle stalled suddenly while driving with no prior indication of trouble. Failure recurred ten miles after restart.
When: 17,712 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling without warning; Recurrent stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; cause undetermined by independent mechanic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
ECM failure
Engine Control Module failed, causing intermittent starting problems. Vehicle would start only about 50% of the time.
When: 33,000 miles; failure recurring for two months before diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent failure to start; Able to start only 50% of attempts
Repairs/costs cited: ECM replacement required; cost not cited; not repaired in complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unknown recall mentioned for 2017–2018 Wrangler, but complainant's VIN not included in recall; manufacturer made aware but no assistance offered
Transmission failure
Transmission failed completely while driving, causing loss of all power and inability to move forward or reverse. Large transmission fluid leak onto road.
When: 86,000 miles; all maintenance kept up
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while driving; Transmission fluid pouring onto road; No power in forward or reverse; No warning lights prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Failure confirmed by service center; cost not cited; not yet repaired in complaint
Engine oil plug brittle/failure
Oil drain plug became brittle and cracked, causing complete loss of oil and engine failure.
When: 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine failure; Breakdown without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required; owner has receipt for new engine
Engine overheating/internal failure
Engine overheated due to stated internal failure. Dealership recommended replacement with same engine but would not warrant against recurrence.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement engine offered; warranty declined for future occurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Handled under warranty; replacement engine offered but without future warranty coverage
Random engine stalling while driving
Engine shut off randomly during city and highway driving, making steering difficult and creating safety risk.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shutoff without warning; Steering becomes difficult; Occurs in city and highway conditions; No check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in complaint
Heater core clogged with casting sand
Heater core became clogged with casting sand from engine manufacturer, causing loss of cabin heat.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of cabin heat
Repairs/costs cited: Heater core service required; cost not cited
Oil leak from oil pump area
Oil leak developed around the oil pump, creating a stated fire hazard when oil contacts hot engine surfaces.
When: 2 years after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak around oil pump
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in complaint; cost not cited
Synthesized from 44 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
My oil filter housing is cracked. I have a 2017 and it is plastic I know after 2017 Jeep knew of the issue and changed the production type then. This is a known issue. Happens to many Jeeps I hear about it a lot. It’s a $1000 fix for something that is common in Jeeps and other pentastar 3.6l engines. I am getting it fixed this week for I am getting a kidney transplant and need it done before the…
Oil cooler assembly cracked and warped (also k own as oil filter housing) this led to a large oil leak and depleted all oil from engine. Repair was over $1,000. All mechanics are saying this is a known issue and becomes expensive because both intake manifolds need to be removed to replace
The oil cooler leaks and the oil runs down the intake valley, down the back of the engine, and onto the frame and the exhaust pipe, this can create a fire hazard under the driver's seat. It also causes oil puddles on the ground which is a hazard. The dealer says oil cooler leaks are the most common issues on the Chrysler/Jeep 3.6L engine. I was told by the dealer, when making an appointment for…
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he became aware of an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Jeep Wrangler?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 44 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 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 45,000 and 72,344 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 72,344. 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/2017/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.