2021 Jeep Wrangler: Bad lifters and rockers leads to camshaft damage
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2021 Wrangler report: bad lifters and rockers leads to camshaft damage. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 67,500 miles.
NHTSA has 225 owner complaints for the 2021 Wrangler in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771298 (filed 10/15/2026): “I have owned this vehicle since august of 2021 and consider myself very familiar with the normal operation and performance of the vehicles propultion system. from august of 2021 through december of 2025: - i could operate the vehicle at highway speeds in full…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771112 (filed 10/14/2026): “My 2021 jeep 4xe is not safe after the 68c battery recall, this recall has caused the combustion engine to start intermittently even though i am in hybrid or electric mode, when this happens, the jeep will not respond to the accelerator pedal for a few seconds…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace lifters, rockers, camshafts, phasers, etc (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,150 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Bad lifters and rockers leads to camshaft damage (2021 Wrangler)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2021 Wrangler
Page last updated .