The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said a long-standing problem with Jeep Wranglers has been fixed.
The nonprofit group tested a 2026 Jeep Wrangler four-door and found that it remained upright during a driver-side crash test. It said that in previous tests, including ones on the 2022 and 2019 models, the Wrangler tipped onto its passenger side after striking a barrier. Initial modifications made by the manufacturer between 2019 and 2022 did not solve the problem, according to the organization.
The institute explained that even partial rollovers are dangerous because they increase the risk of an occupant being completely or partially ejected from the vehicle. It’s an even more pressing issue for the Wrangler since it has a roof and doors that can be removed and has no side curtain airbags.
Thanks to improvements made to the frame rail, the issue was fixed, and Wranglers built after last October earn an acceptable rating from a combination of results of driver-side and passenger-side tests. However, passenger-side testing showed a high risk of injury to the front passenger’s right foot and leg.
Stellantis made the same frame rail modifications to the 2026 Jeep Gladiator, which earned an acceptable IIHS rating for vehicles built after October.