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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $17,920–$24,097 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 6.7/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 7.4/10, while Technology at 6.1/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.2/10 for reliability, this suv trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 7.3/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
With 7.4/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. Technology scores 6.1/10 — the infotainment and driver-assist features feel dated against current-generation rivals. This is worth weighing if you prioritize connected features or modern safety tech.
Priced from $17,920–$24,097, 10 MPG, seating 5, the Jeep Wrangler sits in the budget-friendly tier of the suv market. The value score of 6.5/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 14 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2012 Jeep Wrangler sits in the middle of the field. Until its value and reliability and technology scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler ranks #2273 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 7% of the segment. Its 6.7/10 overall score is 0.7 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $17,920 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 50%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking →
Across the Wrangler model years we've scored, the 2012 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.3/10 | $34,700 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.3/10 | $34,700 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.3/10 | $33,690 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.2/10 | $32,679 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.2/10 | $31,668 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.1/10 | $30,657 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.0/10 | $29,647 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.0/10 | $28,636 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.0/10 | $27,625 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 6.9/10 | $26,615 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 6.8/10 | $25,604 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 6.7/10 | $24,593 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 15/01/2019 · 19V018000 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air… |
|---|---|
| Seat belts / Front / Anchorage 26/09/2019 · 19V680000 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2018 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles. The driver's seat belt buckle mounting strap may fracture and separate from the seat frame. |
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 09/01/2018 · 18V021000 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,… |
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 24/05/2016 · 16V352000 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009… |
| Air bags / Frontal / Driver side / Inflator module 11/05/2016 · 16V288000 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Right Hand Drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to May 2, 2016. The clockspring assembly may become contaminated with dust and cause the air bag circuit to fail. |
Showing 5 of 10 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
Other suvs at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Jeep models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
