Jeep won’t start

Asked by GuruBCR78 Dec 28, 2018 at 07:34 PM about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited Willys Wheeler 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Hi, multiple times this year my Jeep randomly
will stop starting. I was at the gas station and
when I went to start my car, the engine would
not start. All of the lights turn on and the
radio works. But no engine sound. I’m really
concered as this is a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Jk
sport.

25 Answers

260

Mine does the same. Lights on I even bought a new battery and starter and still not turning on

26 people found this helpful.
140

Hello!! Mines a grand Cherokee same issue, at the dealership right now and they can’t even figure out the issue!! Scary thing!!!

14 people found this helpful.
210

Same thing happens with mine. Has happened 4 times. If I wait a while it eventually works again. Anyone have any answers. I assumed that dealership would have no idea. It can’t be repeatable. Happens like months apart.

21 people found this helpful.
120

I rented a new jeep wrangler from enterprise on 8/3. Drove 3 hours and stopped for gas. The car would not turn on. I called road side assistance from Enterprise and get this - they have experienced this in several other wrangler 4 doors and said we might have to wait 20-30 minutes to turn on the car! They weren't quite sure why they have not pulled them from the fleet! So it took us exactly 1 hour to restart the car and we were on our way. Do not rent this vehicle / or buy one until this problem has been solved.

12 people found this helpful.
110

Hi, I have a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and yesterday I got in it and nothing when I turned the key. Lights, radio, door rings and a/c come on, but no cranking. New battery, fuse is good, starter is tested good. Mechanic thinks it's the alarm on the key chain. We'll see.

11 people found this helpful.
180

Has anyone gotten an answer to this problem- I just purchased a 2017 wrangler with just 12000 miles and it happening to me every few days- no dealer help so far and impossible to replicate problem when there

18 people found this helpful.
135

2 months after I leased a new 2018 JK unlimited with 800+ miles I stopped to get gas and it wouldn't start, but in 15 minutes or so it magically started. A couple of months later it happened again. The next time this occurred I was stranded on the NJ turnpike at a rest stop heading to Newark airport to pick up my son and daughter in law and 2 kids under 3 yrs old, returning from Japan. I took it back to the dealer 2xs. No clue because they couldn't duplicate the no start. The 3rd time with me about to start a lemon law, my salesman got me into a 2019 Jeep Cherokee, no money out of pocket. I was fine with that. I liked the Wrangler, to]r the "idea" of a wrangler but this issue was unacceptable and I just didn't trust the car. By the way on my first trip to the dealer it was allegedly "fixed". A transmission temperature switch or something- to no avail. The Cherokee is great- it starts every time!! Glad to be out of that wrangler.

6 people found this helpful.
140

My Wrangler has been having the same problem and getting worse. The no start was duplicated at the dealer in front of the bay to be checked. Dealer couldn’t get it started at first either. They said it was a transmission issue and changed the valve, gasket oil pan, and plug adapter. Just picked it up today. We’ll see if that fixes it.

14 people found this helpful.
130

Any answers? I’m having the same problem on my 2018 wrangler unlimited. Turn the key nothing back and forth and eventually it catches. Dealership said it’s the battery draining and they fixed it. . I’m not a mechanic but I argued it’s not the battery. Of course it’s still happening.

13 people found this helpful.
190

Hi. Try starting it from neutral. Turn the key enough to move from park to neutral. Keep foot on brake! Then turn the key to start ignition. My wrangler had this issue for years. I used to jump on the front bumper and this would often work. But one day it didn’t work and I called AAA and Juan taught me the start from neutral trick. Hasn’t been an issue since. I love Juan.

19 people found this helpful.
40

I've had the same situation with my 2013 Wrangler. Get gas, stuck at the station for 45 minutes, and then it fires up. Replaced the throttle body, and still happens. Going to try the camshaft position sensor now.

4 people found this helpful.
160

I own a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with 750 miles and it will not start. I charged the battery and still will not start. What the hell????

16 people found this helpful.
110

I have a 2017 wrangler mine was the tipm , next time this happens raise the hood with key in run position tap the tips with your fist a few times you will hear everything power up , even though light on dash and radio is on there’s no communication. Took my Jeep 3 times had to have it towed twice and was told that I didn’t know what I was talking about and there level 3 techs cannot replicate issue so they can do nothing. Jeep would not even start when I dropped off the last time and showed service writer and still nothing. Please let me know if this helps

9 people found this helpful.
10

My 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon with 1,050 miles did the same thing today. Waited a few minutes and it magically started. WTH

1 people found this helpful.
80

I have a 2009 jk, which I swapped out the engine. It ran as per normal, then turned it off to check fluid levels. Now it tries to start for about 2 seconds, then that is it???Any ideas??

1 people found this helpful.

I have a Jeep Renegade 2018 and same issue only it chooses when not to start. It started happening this week, I leave it alone after a few tries it starts like nothing happened. Seriously irritated because I don’t want to be stranded one day. It has 70k miles.

20

Same issue. I have a 2018 Wrangler unlimited. Go to start my jeep and NOTHING. All the lights are on, radio, etc.. I've tried putting it in neutral and still no luck. This has happened atleast 7 times (of course at the most inopportune times). My 2017 2 door Wrangler did the same but dealership claimed it was due to aftermarket radio installed. My 2018 is ALL STOCK.

2 people found this helpful.
260

So my 2018 Jeep Wrangler jk unlimited sport is in the shop with the dreaded occasional run it for a bit then it won’t start. So for those that may be having this problem I may be able to help. It turns out there’s a service bulletin regarding this problem and it involves a faulty transmission valve body. Mine is getting replaced and I hope it solves my problem.

17 people found this helpful.
30

I also have a 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK unlimited sport, 45,000km. This has happened 3 times to me where it doesn’t start. Then magically does! The first two times it happened it took about 1- 2 minutes before the magical start up. Today it happened at the most inconvenient time and took about 15 minutes to start up. Radio and lights all come on, but doesn’t roll over or anything . Then suddenly just turns on and no more issues throughout the day. I’m baffled.

3 people found this helpful.
30

I have a 2018 wrangler jk sport that is doing the same thing!!!

3 people found this helpful.
10

2018 doing the same thing at 40k miles. Was intermittent now can't get it. Going to have to tow. Jump start didn't work. Battery seems fine lights everything on. Dealer says there isn't a recall. Seems like there should be.

1 people found this helpful.
260

I was having a very similar problem with my 2018 Jeep Wrangler. There is a service recall for the transmission throttle body. It intermittent when the Jeep hits a certain temperature. Once it cools it will operate like normal

9 people found this helpful.
30

This has happened to me more times then I can count 2016 Jeep Wrangler. I don't think it is anything to do with temps. Mine happens mainly when left unlocked. i feel like it is a security measure. I pop the hood shake the wire to the battery and presto lights come on and I start it fine. For the Jeep mechanics do you think it is a security issue?

3 people found this helpful.

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