2016 Jeep Wrangler

small SUV / 2-door SUV

2016 Jeep Wrangler 2-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front: driver-side
M
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
P
Head restraints & seats
M

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
P
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
LATCH ease of use
M

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2007-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2-door 4wd

The Jeep Wrangler was redesigned for the 2007 model year. For the 2018 model year only, the Wrangler was renamed the Wrangler JK, because the JK was built concurrently through much of the same model year as the redesigned 2018 Wrangler. These ratings apply only to the 2007-17 Wrangler and 2018 Wrangler JK.

Evaluation criteriaRating
M
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
P
Lower leg/foot
P
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s movement was well controlled. The dummy’s head loaded the frontal airbag, which stayed in front of the dummy until rebound. However, the Wrangler is one of a handful of passenger vehicles still sold without standard side airbags to protect the head and chest from contact with side structure and outside objects.
A

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The dummy’s movement was well controlled. The dummy’s head loaded the frontal airbag, which stayed in front of the dummy until rebound. However, the vehicle lacks standard side airbags to protect the head and chest from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Intrusion of the instrument panel and footwell was sufficient to contribute to a high risk of injuries to the left knee, both thighs, and the left lower leg and a moderate risk of injury to the left foot.

Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2007-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2007 Jeep Wrangler X 2-door 4wd

The Jeep Wrangler was redesigned for the 2007 model year. A larger, heavier 4-door model was added for the first time, but the front ends of the 4-door and 2-door are very similar. For the 2018 model year only, the Wrangler was renamed the Wrangler JK, because the JK was built concurrently through much of the same model year as the redesigned 2018 Wrangler.

The Institute tested the 4-door Wrangler first, which received a Good overall frontal crash test rating. Therefore, frontal ratings for the 2-door are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Chrysler. These ratings apply only to the 2007-17 Wrangler and 2018 Wrangler JK.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
A
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2007-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2-door 4wd without optional side airbags

The Jeep Wrangler was redesigned for the 2007 model year. For the 2018 model year only, the Wrangler was renamed the Wrangler JK, because the JK was built concurrently through much of the same model year as the redesigned 2018 Wrangler. These ratings apply only to the 2007-17 Wrangler and 2018 Wrangler JK.

During the crash, the driver door opened. This opening didn't significantly affect dummy movement during the test but shouldn't happen because, in some crashes, it could allow partial or complete occupant ejection, especially if the occupant is unbelted. This door opening resulted in a structure rating downgrade from good to acceptable.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
P
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
P
Pelvis/leg
M
Driver head protection
Although the intruding barrier did not hit the dummy's head in this test, the head was not protected from contacts outside the vehicle. This indicates that only slightly different crash circumstances could produce a direct hit to a person's head.
M
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
The dummy's head was hit by the diagonal steel tube supporting the convertible top. This impact did not produce high head injury measures, but the head protection is inadequate.
M

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test, showing the open driver door.

View of the vehicle after the crash with door removed, showing damage to the occupant compartment.

Although the dummy's head was not hit by the barrier, shattering glass from the side window left deep gouges on the top of the head.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was hit by the diagonal steel tube supporting the convertible top.

Technical measurements for this test

About the original side crash test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats

Overall evaluation
M
Dynamic rating
M
Seat/head restraint geometry
A
Technical measurements for this test

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
P
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

About the headlight evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-17 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth
1 3
Rating iconRating
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

PositionRating
1
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

About the child seat anchor evaluation