JeepWrangler20014.0L/jeep/wrangler/2001/4-0l/
TJ platform

2001 Jeep Wrangler — 4.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Wrangler 4.0L.

Body SUVEngine 4.0LTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 2001 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L is a TJ-platform SUV powered by the 4.0-liter engine and paired here with a three-speed automatic transmission, with routine service calling for 6 quarts of 5W-30 API oil with filter and EPA ratings of 13/16/15 mpg. In owner-reported reliability data spanning 1990 through 2023, the 2001 model accumulated 177 complaints and seven recalls, with the electrical system drawing the most reports. That complaint count places it very low in the Wrangler's historical range, which peaks at 1,793 complaints for the 2018 model and bottoms out at five for 1996, meaning a researcher should treat this year as comparatively quiet rather than problem-prone.

Model year200620052004200320012000199919981997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-110 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy13/16/15 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 500 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 34 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04797777AC
Fuel filter04798301 discontinued
Spark plugSP000ZFR5N alt 68304022AA
Battery1BPB5800AA
Front wiper blades55154762AF discontinued
Serpentine belt53010150 alt 53010257AC
Thermostat52028186AC alt 53020547AC

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined13 / 16 / 15 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2001 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

7.6–9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.60 sec — 1997 Sport 2-door
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1999Sport 2-door 4.0L I-69.30 sec17.10 sec181 hp4x4
2003Rubicon 2-door 4.0L I-69.80 sec17.30 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport 2-door 4.0L I-67.60 sec16.30 sec181 hp4x4
1997Sport 2-door 4.0L I-69.10 sec16.90 sec181 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 · SYNTHETIC in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-110 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-140
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5 · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 pints, mvc front, non_mvc 216
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings33-35 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/StudsPump bolts: 14 ft-lbs, Cover bolts: 9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-110 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugSteel case: 35.0, Aluminum case: 18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugSteel case: 35.0, Aluminum case: 18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub175 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.71-.88 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)47-51 psi
Engine Compression120-150 PSI. 30 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure13
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle7-15 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.030
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.944 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.944 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.894 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Coat threads of left hand front bolt with sealant

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
245 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
3all bolts except L.H. front bolt110 ft. lbs
4100
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 7 stages
1caps 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 740 ft. lbs
2caps 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 770 ft. lbs
3caps 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 780 ft. lbs
4Push the crankshaft forward and backward. Load the crankshaft front or rear and tighten cap bolt No.3 to 40 ft. lbs.40 ft. lbs
5Tighten to 70 ft. lbs.70 ft. lbs
6Tighten to 80 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
7Rotate the crankshaft after tightening each main bearing cap to ensure the crankshaft rotates freely.

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 51,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 151,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the TJ generation (19972006), complaint counts surged from just 5 in 1996 to a peak of 455 in 1997, then hovered between 223 and 288 from 1998 through 2000 before dropping to 177 in 2001. The 2001 model had 7 recalls, which is comparable to the 5 recalls in 2000 and the 6 recalls in 2002, indicating no unusual recall spike. Investigations were zero in 2001, matching the pattern of many surrounding years (1996, 1998‑2002) where investigations were absent or minimal. After 2001, complaints continued to fall to a low of 102 in 2003 before rising sharply again after 2005, placing 2001 in a relatively low‑complaint trough of the generation. Consequently, the 2001 Jeep Wrangler shows fewer complaints and recall levels similar to adjacent years, suggesting it is a reasonably good year to consider for a used purchase.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
47
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
177
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 18 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 177 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System25
Structure22
Engine & Engine Cooling21
Power Train16
Air Bags14
Unknown Or Other8
Suspension7
Visibility5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E022000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 13/03/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA… Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER…

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 47 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
S20250000052020-06-01Electrical SystemMalfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0407 ? EGR…
23-015-202020-04-30EquipmentDisinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Wrangler. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Wrangler 4.0L take?

6 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Wrangler have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 4.0L get?

EPA figures are 13 city / 16 highway / 15 combined mpg.