2018 Jeep Wrangler JK

small SUV / 2-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

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 2018 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.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1235
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 17
Left toepan (cm) 16
Brake pedal (cm) 13
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 8
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Upper dash (cm) 11
Lower instrument panel (cm) 9

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1235
Head
HIC-15 147
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 13.0
Right 12.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 26
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 70
Right 60
Maximum tibia index
Left 2.43
Right 0.61
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 4.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 177
Right 103

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018 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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF0808
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 8
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -1
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) 0
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF0808
Head
HIC-15 215
Peak gs at hard contact 76
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 40
Maximum Nij 0.33
Chest maximum compression (mm) 37
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 5.9
Femur force - right (kN) 1.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 2
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.63
Maximum tibia index - right 0.55
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 76
Right 71

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018 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.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
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.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES0822
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -15.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES0822
Head HIC-15 121
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 46
Lateral force (kN) 2.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 57
Average deflection (mm) 49
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 7.68
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.49
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 3.6
Combined force (kN) 6.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 76
A-P moment (Nm) 39

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES0822
Head HIC-15 522
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 11
Lateral force (kN) 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 24
Average deflection (mm) 8
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.78
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.19
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.1
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 161
A-P moment (Nm) -90

About the original side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Sahara trim
  • Rubicon trim
  • Sport trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
  • Rubicon Recon trim
  • Altitude trim
  • Golden Eagle trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
  • Freedom Edition trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
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

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sahara trim
  • Rubicon trim
  • Sport trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
  • Rubicon Recon trim
  • Altitude trim
  • Golden Eagle trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
  • Freedom Edition trim equipped with LED Lighting Group package
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 71.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 44.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 46.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 44.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.9 m
Straightaway left edge 136.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim
  • Willys Wheeler trim
  • Freedom Edition trim
  • Golden Eagle trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
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
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim
  • Willys Wheeler trim
  • Freedom Edition trim
  • Golden Eagle trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 71.4 m 4.5%
Straightaway left edge 47.2 m 4.5%
250m radius right curve, right edge 50.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 43.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 93.3 m
Straightaway left edge 38.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 50.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 40.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 42.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 35.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2018 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth

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

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth
1 3
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

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

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 62
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 72
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 75
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation