Could Jeep Really Have Finally Fixed the Wrangler’s Most Infamous Flaw?

While any kind of 4×4 with a narrow wheelbase and a high center of gravity poses increased rollover potential, there’s no denying that the Jeep Wrangler touts one of the most notorious reputations for tipping.

So much so, in fact, you’ve likely seen owners driving repping stickers playing into the bit, something to the effect of “if you can read this, roll me over” or “this way up.” As much as enthusiasts appreciate the dark comedy, though, risk is risk, and most people expect more from modern vehicles.

IIHS

However, now it seems that Jeep might have finally made a change to help address the issue. Though it’s far from a universal solution, it does provide a fix for a key problem that’s been plaguing the Wrangler for years. 

A tipping point

That being overturning as a result of a front-end collision. Just watch one of the old tests to get an idea.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “The 2026 Jeep Wrangler 4-door remained upright during the driver-side small overlap crash test, resolving a longstanding issue with the popular SUV.” In practice, it applies to Wranglers built after October 2025.

For context, the small overlap crash test is meant to represent a collision in which the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object such as a tree or a telephone pole. Testers run vehicles at 40 mph into a rigid barrier with roughly 25 percent of the front end overlapping. 

The IIHS first identified an issue with the Wrangler in 2019, as the SUV would tip onto its passenger side upon contact. Even with some tweaks, the problem persisted through 2022, earning it a ‘marginal’ rating.

As you’ll see in the latest test video, though, Jeep has remedied the problem. The Wrangler manages to sustain the impact while staying considerably more planted in the process.

Per the IIHS, it results from changes made to the frame rail. Stellantis reinforced the chassis to improve the driver occupant protection and increase deflection. 

IIHS

Still not perfect

Now, even with the new crash tweaks, the Wrangler still shows potential areas for improvement in testing.

For instance, even though the IIHS found the SUV provides “solid protection overall” in the passenger-side test, it still demonstrated an increased risk of injury to the front passenger’s right foot and leg. This earned it a ‘Poor’ rating in the category.

IIHS

Moreover, Wrangler owners aren’t fitting those fog lights just for looks, as the headlights could clearly use some work. 

Though the LEDs offered “fair” visibility in some cases (mostly on left-side straightaways and curves), the halogen bulbs proved inadequate pretty much regardless of the testing scenario. Whether low beam or high beam, they netted consistent ‘Poor’ ratings.

IIHS

There were some other minor niggles, too, like a moderate chest injury risk for rear passengers, though Jeep does seem to be on the up-and-up overall. Moreover, as these same modifications were made to the frame rail on the Jeep Gladiator, it also touts improved crash testing in the case of models built after October 2025.

Being a specific test, this is obviously just one scenario in which the Wrangler is now less rollover-prone. Lucky for you Jeep owners, then, you can keep repping those stickers, albeit with a little more peace of mind.

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