Three of the 2013 Wrangler’s seven recalls involve injury prevention in a crash. Chief complaints among drivers cover the electrical system’s short-circuiting problems and a suspension that sometimes leads to ‘death wobble.’
Key Points
- Recalls for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler center around the safety of its passengers, with a total of four concerning airbags and seatbelts.
- Electrical problems on the Wrangler can lead to fires or short circuits that shut the vehicle off without warning.
- The 2013 Wrangler carries the same inherent risk of rollover found on most Jeeps dating back to the Second World War.
- Below-average suspension leads to a bumpy ride in the 2013 Wrangler, making it sometimes difficult to control.
Notable Recalls for the 2013 Wrangler are over Airbags Prone to Eruption and Seatbelts that Don’t Function Correctly
The 2013 Jeep Wrangler, like generations of Jeeps before it, has its share of safety problems. They include a tendency to roll over easier than most SUVs. The Wrangler, introduced by Jeep in 1987, is not immune to this, and the manufacturer has known about it for decades.
This makes it all the more alarming that four of seven recalls for the 2013 Wrangler concern passenger safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued two separate recalls, in 2018 and 2019, for the front passenger-side airbags on 2013 Wranglers, affecting over 1.7 million Jeeps, after finding that they were prone to explosion.
Takata, the Jeep Wrangler’s airbag manufacturer, used a propellant in its airbags from 2007-2013 that did not have a drying agent present. Without the drying agent, airbags retained far too much moisture. And in the event of a crash, they would improperly inflate because of the moisture. This can potentially send shards into the cabin of the vehicle.
Airbag problems were not limited to the passenger side of the vehicle, however. In 2016, the NHTSA found that the clockspring assemblies located in the steering wheel of 2013 Wranglers were prone to contamination.
Dust was able to find its way into the clockspring assembly, which compresses and completes a circuit in the event of a collision. With the dust in the assembly, the clockspring was unable to compress and complete the circuit. As a result, airbags failed to deploy when necessary.
Malfunctioning Seat Belts and Heated Side Mirrors that Can Catch Fire are Among 2013 Wrangler’s Additional Safety Concerns
Further problems involving the safety of Wrangler passengers involve its seatbelts. Though it only applies to around 11,000 right-hand-drive vehicles, the NHTSA issued a recall for stateside Wranglers after finding that the seatbelt buckle’s mounting strap may crack and separate from the frame of the vehicle.
Another safety concern within the cab of the 2013 Wrangler are the floorboard liners. The NHTSA found that the liners, made by Quadratec, were apt to tear at the anchors.
Following the failure, the liner could lift up and prevent the gas or brake pedals from being pressed, heightening a risk of crashing. A simple visual inspection of the liners is all it takes to see if this is a problem any particular Jeep may be having.
Electrical woes are not limited to the steering wheel alone in the 2013 Jeep Wrangler; in a wiring harness beset with problems, one issue carries a high risk for fire. The wiring in the heated side mirrors of the Jeep was found to be prone to short-circuiting due to corrosion.
When the short-circuiting occurred, fires would start behind the mirror. A recall was issued for this in 2014. Likely non-life-threatening, but nobody wants to be looking in the mirror to change lanes and suddenly see smoke or flames licking through the housing.
The 2013 Jeep Wrangler was found to have transmission fluid leaks. The problem was caused by contact between the transmission oil cooler line and the power steering line.
The issue could ultimately lead to a hole being worn in the transmission oil line, creating a leak. If the fluid leaked all the way out, the gears inside would have no lubrication, thus endangering the transmission of locking up, cracking, or exploding.
Electrical Gremlins, Suspension Issues Draw the Ire of Customer Complaints
Among drivers, the Jeep’s suspension is one of the worst problems for the 2013 Wrangler. Jeep drivers complain that when the SUV hits a bump in the road, the vehicle fishtails or becomes hard to control otherwise, even leading to a death wobble in some instances.
A Motor Trend review of the 2013 Wrangler corroborates this, stating that “passengers will feel every bump” in the road, and that the Jeep’s handling leaves much to be desired.
But most prominent among the problems with the 2013 Jeep Wrangler are issues with the wiring harness. Among NHTSA complaints, the top three categories are the powertrain, engine, and electrical system.
Further investigation in both the powertrain and engine complaints reveals that most of these issues can be traced back to the electrical system.
The steering wheel and short-circuiting side mirrors were just the tip of the iceberg. There are complaints about the Wrangler randomly shutting off.
There are further complaints about the electronic stability control going out. TPIM modules, which control the distribution of power throughout the 2013 Wrangler, are prone to failure. This can affect anything from the A/C to the headlights.
Jeep’s Issues, While Annoying and Numerous, Do not Cancel out All Redeeming Qualities of the 2013 Wrangler
Some problems with the 2013 Jeep Wrangler are life-threatening and need immediate attention like the recalls on seatbelts and airbags. An upgraded suspension system wouldn’t hurt any prospective off-roaders either.
But most owners of 2013 Wranglers are very satisfied with their Jeeps and many haven’t had any of the electrical problems that seem to frustrate so many of those who are not as keen on the Wrangler.
All in all, the 2013 Wrangler is still near the top of the pack for off-roading vehicles, and prospective buyers have had eight decades to know the inherent safety risks that come with owning any Jeep.
With this in mind, the 2013 Wrangler should be approached with caution, this applies to later models as well, which have many of the same safety concerns but less of the electrical complaints.
As long as the safety issues with the 2013 Jeep have been addressed, it isn’t entirely necessary to avoid it, but a once-or-twice-over on the wiring harness would be advised.
The 2013 SUV is far from bulletproof, but for drivers who want a good off-roading vehicle they can depend on, the Jeep Wrangler should never be left off the list, despite its issues.
Photos: Jeep
