The 2026 Jeep Wrangler IIHS Crash Test Results: It’s Safe! 

The governing authority states that the Wrangler overcame its biggest weakness after the 2026 Jeep Wrangler IIHS crash test results. 

The Jeep Wrangler is a survivor, a rugged SUV with retro looks that can hold its own in the toughest terrains, and then go to the shopping mall, all in one day. However, as capable as it is in trails and rock crawling, the Jeep Wrangler was also prone to rolling, especially in a specific crash. 

Due to a high center of gravity and narrower wheelbase than other vehicles, the Wrangler was particularly vulnerable in one test: the driver-side, small overlap crash. In simple terms, it’s a crash where the vehicle goes in a straight line and collides with an offcenter obstacle, hence the term small overlap. 

The obstacle is actually in the corner of the vehicle, which makes rolling over more probable in all vehicles, but the Wrangler was particularly prone. The problem started in 2019 and continued all the way up to 2022, even though Jeep made significant efforts to fix the problem. 

As a result, the Jeep Wrangler IISH crash test results were usually poor, with 26.7% of the crashes likely ending in a rollover, as this article explains. 

Here’s a video from IIHS explaining what precisely happened in the Jeep Wrangler IIHS crash test results that yielded it unsafe. 

Jeep Wrangler IIHS Crash Test Results Improve In 2025

Jeep announced that it was making massive efforts to improve the vehicle in 2025. The solution was to provide reinforcement in the frame rail so that it deflects most of the energy from the vehicle’s weak point. This is complex mumbo-jumbo to say that the car is stiffer. 

Technical jargon aside, the fix worked. Jeep Wrangler IIHS crash test results for vehicles produced after October 2025 had positive results. The vehicle performed better than expected and it finally earned an “acceptable” rating. 

Before this, as this IIHS site details, the Wrangler had earned a “Poor” rating in this crash. It’s also important to note that the Wrangler also had a “Poor” rating in headlights for crash mitigation. Jeep hasn’t referred to working on these.

However, it’s important to note that any Wrangler produced before October 2025 doesn’t have an “acceptable” rating. That’s to say, the crash test involved 4-door Wranglers, as the 2-door version didn’t encounter such a problem. So, the improved results only apply to the longer wheelbase, 4-door models, including all trims and variants. 

Modifications could affect performance 

While the Jeep Wrangler IIHS crash test results indicate that Wranglers produced after October 2025 are safer than previous models, it’s important to note that these do not include modified vehicles. When you modify a Wrangler, you’re altering the vehicle’s original specs, including height, suspension travel and general performance. 

Therefore, there’s no way of telling how it could behave, even if the modification is slight, such as only larger tires. That’s why it’s always important to check the owner’s manual to understand how much you can modify without negative consequences. 

Some of the more common consequences of modified Wranglers include the infamous “Death Wobble” and a jumpy suspension while driving at highway speeds. While the Jeep Wrangler is as a good a car as any for daily driving, it’s not the best-performing when it comes to high speeds. 

The good thing is that Jeep is making strides to improve the ride quality of one of its most important vehicles. As the company struggles to find a north in 2026, the Wrangler continues to be a fan-favorite, and an iconic vehicle, thanks to its looks and performance. Now, the Jeep Wrangler IIHS crash test results give us the confidence to know it’s not only that, but safer.