general problems of the 2008 Jeep Wrangler - part 1

While driving at speed, vehicle electrical went haywire. Headlights went on and off. Horn sounding on and off, wipers and washers going on and off, hvac blower on and off. Pulled over vehicle and turned off and removed key and it still remained running, all horn, lights, and wipers still going on and off. Opened hood, removed negative battery terminal, and with that, car still ran! was several minutes and car finally shut itself off. Scary that the car went completely haywire and would not shut off, even with key out, and battery disconnected!.

The abs computer brake module is bad in my Jeep. It needs a replacement. Confirmed by Chrysler Jeep dealership. However, Chrysler does not offer a replacement module. Abs does not work on my vehicle. This is a huge safety issue and is common problem among this year Jeep. Chrysler shouldn’t be allowed to not have a replacement oem abs module. Huge safety risk and lawsuit.

I was driving down the road in my 2008 Wrangler and all of the sudden every light flashed on my dash board then it felt like I could not shift gears then smoke came pouring out of my air vents. I pulled over and got out realizing it was on fire. Climbed in to save my dog just before the fire got huge. My entire Jeep is gone.

April 22, 2025 my 2008 Jeep lost power. There was a sequence, where one warning light was followed by another, followed by a complete loss of power. I charged the battery, car started up, I drove to dealer (a 5-minute trip), and by my arrival the Jeep had again lost all power. Dealer checked the vehicle, and told me the battery and charging system were fine, but the abs brake modulator was draining the power. They have not been able to get another modulator and the vehicle is still at the dealer (crown Chrysler Jeep Dodge ram dublin, OH). Losing power precipitously presents a safety hazard.

The ignition switch stays on after releasing key.

Tipm intermittent, fuel pump cuts off.

Tipm intermittent failures.

Headlights stopped working. The headlights are controlled by a computer. No relay, fuse, or anything that can be fixed at a parts store. We had to wait days for a computer to show up.

Vehicle while driving, wipers start, horn blows, washer fluid sprays, abs light goes on, engine dies making braking and steering impossible.

Car was purchased 1 hour prior to incident from a dealership. Car was in idle and was shifted to drive and automatically accelerated rapidly without foot on gas pedal and breaks did not work when breaks were forcefully applied during the incident. The car crashed into a house deck and went off the cement pad and crashed into trees in the yard. Unable to remove key from ignition, had to be placed in neutral to remove key. We had the car for less than an hour after purchase. Damage was sustained to the deck and significant damage to car, air bags did not deploy. Claim was immediately filed with insurance.

The tipm shorts out then the wipers, start running, horn blares, windshield washer fluid sprays, lights flash. The only way to stop it is unhook the battery. This is so unsafe driving on the highway you cant see the road. I almost crashed trying to pull over. After doing some internet research this is so common. This should be a recall it is dangerous! I wont let my son drive it now.

Tipm/ all warning lights came on. Started with radio turing on, wipers malfunctioning, lights coming on out of no where. Now vehicle will not stay on in addition battery will not stay charged.

This has happened on more than 1 occasion. Driving on the highway and I lose power, the Jeep slows way down, the accelerator pedal is dead, and the electronic throttle control (etc) light comes on. It does the same thing driving in town. Sometimes you can turn the vehicle off, wait a couple minutes, start it back up and it will be ok for a little bit. Sometimes it won’t. I have replaced some parts, read forums, communicated with a dealer service department and it doesn’t sound like there is a “fix” for this. This is very dangerous and someone could get seriously injured or killed.

The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the horn, alarm, windows, and windshield wipers spontaneously engaged. There were several unknown warning lights flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact was then informed that the tipm needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified if the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was not available.

My Jeep just intermittently started the crank no start issue and gave code po5013, incorrect immobilizer key. After extensive research I have found many Jeep owners to have this same problem and also found that Chrysler has confirmed it is a built in problem. After taking my Jeep to to dealer and having my keys checked along with the starter and ignition cylinder lock it is the (wcm) wireless control module that is the culprit of the crank but no start issue. This is an extremely unsafe problem due to my vehicle shutting down while driving on top of the other various problems the wcm has caused. Directions say to reset the wcm by pulling the iod fuse for 30 seconds and then replacing however this method no longer works.

The dashblights started acting possessed while driving and winshield whipera came on without being activated by switch. Now the guages are stuck straight up and it wont shift out of park. . The radio and windows still work and the lights cone on without being turned on.

I am experiencing a recurring issue that appears to be the totally integrated power module (tipm). Every couple of months, the entire electrical system goes haywire, for about 3 minutes and then is fine. In researching this, I am finding that it was a common problem on Jeep vehicles of that time period. It most recently occurred today, although it has happened for about the last 2 years, since shortly after I bought the vehicle.

Totally integrated power module (tipm) mass failure causing all electrical systems to go haywire and car to be undrivable. This apparently is an increasingly bad problem on Jeep Wranglers.

Tl the contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received recall notices for NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v352000 (air bags)and 16v290000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to south point Dodge Chrysler Jeep ram (located at 5210 s ih 35 frontage rd, austin, TX 78745) and repaired. After the contact left the dealer and was driving home at 65 mph, a burning odor was detected coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,030.

Electrical problem causing starting problems, issues with windshield wipers and no lights on dash or headlights/break lights. At times while driving all lights on dashboard will turn off and windshield wipers go on on their own. The headlights and break lights will also not work. The interior lights and radio will still function. Dealership could not find the problem or solution.

Jeep has major electrical issues. Jeeps tipm module has caused the Jeep to die while driving, experience lacking power, check engine light to go off and seems to brake itself. I replaced itnless than a year ago and now the dealership is saying it is going out again. Also having problems with pcm and part is on national backorder.

Tipm module is activating the wipers and headlights. Is not allowing turn signals to work after disconnecting battery. Dash lights blink, odometer will blank out for a second at times.

*possible takata recall* but recall was completed and now unknown, reason I say that is the the smoke seemed to becoming from the passenger side near the air bag. Jeep was stationary and was started up to drive and began to smoke while parked in the drive way. The smoke smoke continued for approximately 3-4 seconds and was whitish blue in color. After the had dissipated there was a distinct smell of an electrical burn. All windows, blower, ac, heat controls work as normal, radio and speakers work as normal too. I've had my Jeep sense 2012 and have never seen or experienced this issue before.

There is a used car dealership in phoenix arizona called prime auto, phone 602-737-3275. I am working with the arizona attorney generals office and have (within just a few days) collected stories from 3 other individuals with similar issues, being sold a used car that was unsafe on the roadways - my situation was a death wobble in a Jeep Wrangler, blinkers malfunctioning, wiper blades not working properly - two of those are a legal responsibility of the dealership (seller) to ensure in working condition and they failed. They also attempted to fradulently represent my cars trade in value by showing me a kbb. Com price that is only for cars traded in requiring repairs, I traded in a near new Jeep. If the ag's office does not act on this claim I would hope that your office would, or at least work together in bringing charges to stop prime auto from selling cars until a full investigation is complete and all previous customers contacted and made available their legal remedies for the dealerships actions in selling unsafe vehicles that could potentially harm multiple, victims, not just the buyer. . Read more...

While driving all dash lights turn on headlights do not work wipers start wiping and wiper washers start squirting the engine stalls and will not start looked into issue and tipm is bad in all 2007-2011 Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep.

Will not pass inspection check engine lights remain on along with a red light that looks like lighting bolt. Replaced battery. New engine. New radiator. New pin. Everything that was found on diagnostic check replaced. Still paying for car. Not able to drive it. Has a dangerous death wobble. This is the worst vehicle made. Don't know what to do. Cannot get plates for Jeep that eill never pass inspection. What can I do .

All headlights go off randomly. Started intermittent, then more often causing safety issues at night. Checked everything multiple times, now they come on and blink 3 times. Tipm model was causing problems but no codes. Looks like repeating issue with Chrysler and should be recall.

The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle intermittently stopped working and all the instrument panel indicators illuminated unexpectedly. Also, the electrical system shut down and the vehicle started to slow down. The contact stopped, turned off, and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was taken to turnersville Jeep Chrysler Dodge ram (3100 NJ-42, sicklerville, NJ 08081 (856) 316-7958) where it was diagnosed that a fuse was blown. The vehicle was repaired. The contact requested a test drive and the failure recurred. The contact left the vehicle at the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to call the dealer for a remedy. The failure mileage was 37,000.

While driving headlights, windshield wipers/washer, signals, esp disable button and interior lights stopped functioning. This is the second tipm in this vehicle. The first was replaced after power windows stopped functioning.

Shortly after I bought my 2008 Jeep Wrangler in 2015 from the local dealership it started to intermittently not start. It wouldn't even turn over. Had it towed to the same local Jeep dealer that I bought it from and they checked it out. It turned out to be a faulty tipm. They replaced the faulty tipm and now two years later it is doing the same thing.

My vehicle begins to act as if it is possessed. When driving all dash lights will flash, windshield wipers will turn on, washer fluid will shoot out. Also while driving everything will lock up making it impossible to control the vehicle. When parked, the vehicle will struggle to start and all of the other symptoms listed above occur.

On my Jeep Wrangler the tipm went out. I understand that 2008 Jeep Wrangler have this as a recall but they have told me my VIN number hasn't shown up to be a problem yet or next in line for this recall. Is there a way I can get my Jeep VIN to show so I can get this fixed. Whippers are going off even tho its off. Dash lights won't turn on or show I have any fuel. I can not change the gear.

Jeep has mind of its own. No start, no headlights, wipers work on their own and spray all fluid. Jeep shuts off driving, then cant shut engine off with key.

Driving home from work on a moderately hot day (91 deg at start of drive, 80 deg at time of incident about 55 minutes after start), some stop-n-go traffic first 40 minutes, then a steady normal climb into foothills (from about 5400' to 8200') on paved roads, as vehicle was turning right at a y-intersection at top of a hill, a large bang was heard in the engine compartment followed by excessive amounts of grey smoke emanating from same. Engine temperature was normal at the time (fan had engaged a few times along the way to keep within range) and no warning lights were present before or after incident. Immediately pulled over and opened hood. Within about a minute of stopping a small fire broke out above the drivers side manifold/cat. I was able to extinguish using a towel, but not before the fire had melted some wire bundles. Initial inspection indicated a power steering (atf) fluid rupture that sprayed the engine compartment, subsequently flashing from the heat of the catalytic converter. Fortunately, situation was handled quickly before the car became engulfed (as I've now learned has happened several times with this vehicle model). Vehicle is being towed to Jeep dealer tomorrow for repair. I have not yet had the opportunity to speak with Jeep regarding this incident, but feel a faulty design has put my safety at risk. I will hopefully be able to provide more information to this submission once available. . .

Vehicle stationary and in motion a single ding will go off every couple of minutes, more often at slower speeds. No dash light on no indication as to why it is dinging. Also parked on hill when I put it in reverse to begin going into motion the vehicle shakes at an unsettling feeling until I get to flat ground and put it into drive.