1990 Jeep Wrangler

79 federal complaints (105 component records) · 4 recall campaigns on file · 10 federal investigations · 11 service bulletins
See all 41 model years of the Jeep Wrangler →
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
4WD/AWD
EPA economy
16 city / 19 hwy
Federal complaints
79
Recall campaigns
4
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Fuel system
22
Parking brake
17
Seats
12
Brakes
12
Engine & cooling
11
Seat belts
7
Power train
5
Electrical system
4
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 2 complaints01 years old: 0 complaints2 years old: 1 complaints3 years old: 2 complaints4 years old: 4 complaints5 years old: 11 complaints56 years old: 3 complaints7 years old: 2 complaints8 years old: 1 complaints9 years old: 5 complaints10 years old: 2 complaints1011 years old: 6 complaints12 years old: 5 complaints13 years old: 1 complaints14 years old: 1 complaints15 years old: 2 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 1 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 5 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 54 of 79 complaints with a usable failure date.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Fuel system

22 complaint records2 fire reports
"CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY EAGLE IN CA., KEEPS TELLING OWNER TO CALL BACK AFTER EVERY (2) WEEKS. OWNER RECEIVED SECOND NOTICE 1/95. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse fuel system parts in the directory →

Parking brake

17 complaint records3 crash reports
"THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AUGUST 2002. TO DATE THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE RECALLED PART WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *NLM..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse parking brake parts in the directory →

Seats

12 complaint records2 crash reports
"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK REST BROKE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE METAL THAT HOLDS SEATBACK IN PLACE BROKE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse seats parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
RQ97016
opened Oct 1997
closed Jun 1998Fuel System, GasolineFUEL LEAKAGE - led to recall 94V106000
ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS ON FUEL LEAKAGE AND 3 REPORTS ON ALLEGED REMEDY FAILURE REPORTS
PE95049
opened Aug 1995
closed Jan 1996SuspensionREAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE MODE AND THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY POSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE SEPARATIONS.THE REAR AXLE SHAFT AND HOUSING DESIGN IS TYPICAL OF THOSE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE IS CARRIED ON THE AXLE...
PE95020
opened Mar 1995
closed Jul 1995SeatsSEAT BACK FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
EA94031
opened Aug 1994
closed Sep 1997Seat BeltsSEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
PE94037
opened Apr 1994
closed Aug 1994Seat BeltsSEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Show 5 more closed investigations
InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA93031
opened Dec 1993
closed Jun 1994Vehicle Speed ControlSENDING UNIT GASKET FAILS - led to recall 94V106000
There is no summary currently available
EA93025
opened Oct 1993
closed Nov 1994Power TrainDRIVESHAFT/UNIV.JOINT FAIL
There is no summary currently available
PE93080
opened Sep 1993
closed Dec 1993Vehicle Speed ControlSENDING UNIT GASKET FAILS
There is no summary currently available
EA92014
opened May 1992
closed May 1993Vehicle Speed ControlFUEL TANK/EXHAUST INTERFER
There is no summary currently available
PE92016
opened Feb 1992
closed May 1992Vehicle Speed ControlFUEL TANK/EXHAUST INTERFER
There is no summary currently available

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
02V041000Parking BrakeON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN SELF-RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.Normally free
98V005000Service Brakes, HydraulicVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW...Normally free
94V106000Fuel System, GasolineVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.Normally free
92V148000Service Brakes, HydraulicON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS.Normally free

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
D-20-02 Rev. A
Mar 2020
EquipmentDIPAP Requirements - Addition of Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) Hard Top and Targa Top Panel Replacements - All Dealers (Rev. A)
0800600REV
Dec 2000
Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
080600
Feb 2000
Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT
081698
Apr 1998
EquipmentINFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK
070397
May 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingVARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC
Show 6 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
230397
Feb 1997
StructureDIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW
RCL647
Oct 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingAPPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.2L ENGINE AND FEDERAL HIGH ALTITUDE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. FUEL VAPORS MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION OF THE PCV HARNESS ASSEMBLY. THE PCV HARNESS ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE IDLE SPEEDS MUST BE RESET.
RCL/617
May 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingUNKNOWN
RCL/558
Apr 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingRECALL 558 - FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY CAUSE A VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MUST BE REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN PARTS. *TW
RCL/557
Dec 1994
Engine And Engine CoolingIT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE 1990 JEEP VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE, MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS.
RCL/589
Nov 1994
Engine And Engine CoolingHYDROCARBON AND CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS LEVLS FOR THE ABOVE LISTED MODEL VEHICLES MAY EXCEED THE LIMITS ALLOWED BY CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, THE PCV HARNESS, CHOKE VACUUM DIAPHRAGM, EGR VALVE AND DECEL VALVE, IF EQUIPPED, MUST BE REPLACED. *TW

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Smell for fuel and watch the first restart when hot.Hard starting when warm, hesitation under load, or any fuel odor near the tank or engine bay match this vehicle's fuel-system cluster. Check the recall table for fuel pump campaigns.
  2. Set and release the parking brake on a slope.A brake that will not hold or will not release matches this vehicle's parking-brake cluster.
  3. Run every power seat adjustment and check the seat frame.Motors that stall and seats that rock on their tracks are this vehicle's seat complaints.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Jeep Wrangler →