2024 And Newer Jeep Wrangler IIHS Safety Scores Improve

4 months ago - 3 August 2025, Carbuzz
2024 And Newer Jeep Wrangler IIHS Safety Scores Improve
The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety has been appropriately critical of the crash test results for recent Jeep Wrangler models dating back to 2019, where it rolled over in a 40 mph front overlap crash test. It then rolled again, despite modifications to its structure to try to prevent a rollover, in a 2022 test.

While the IIHS still hasn't tested newer model years in that small front overlap test, the 2024-and-newer Wrangler has made improvements in other areas, with a lot of room still left for improvement. That said, it now has the highest safety marks it's ever achieved.

Moderate Crash Test Improvement With Seat Belt Changes
The new IIHS "good" rating in the moderate front overlap crash test makes the 2024 and 2025 Wrangler models the safest, as tested, they've ever been, though there is still room for improvement. In this latest moderate front overlap test, the Wrangler scored a good rating in nine of ten categories, with only an acceptable rating regarding a rear seat crash test dummy's head impacting a (cushioned) overhead roll bar, despite the seat belt operating as designed.

According to the organization: "...beginning with 2024 models, load limiters and pre-tensioners were added to the rear seat belts to improve rear occupant safety in moderate overlap front crashes." The 2024-2025 Wranglers were also rated "good" in the side impact testing, and overall the Wrangler now earns its highest marks than any prior model year.

Some Models Might Still Flip Over
However, the critical small front overlap crash test hasn't been retested since 2022. That means the Wrangler has to keep an "incomplete" moderate rating until it is tested again, which likely won't happen until Jeep directly addresses the concerns with some kind of change to the structure to help prevent another rollover. According to the IIHS: "The partial rollover presents an additional injury risk beyond what the standard criteria are intended to measure in small overlap frontal crash tests." The IIHS carries over this moderate rating to the related Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, as well.

Other IIHS Wrangler Ratings
Nine of the current Wrangler trims offered for sale are marked "poor" for their headlights, while the Rubicon 392 trim earns a moderate rating, along with moderate ratings for Wranglers equipped with the available Safety Group package, LED Headlamp and Fog Lamp Group, or Customer Preferred package. The IIHS also marks the Wrangler poor for pedestrian front crash testing, as the SUV doesn't offer any sort of front crash protection technology.

The Wrangler is commended by the IIHS with a moderate rating for seat belt reminders, and a more than good rating for having three optional child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware locations in the second row (though you can only fit two car seats at a time). This all seems to only be for four-door models. The IIHS web pages for the two-door Wrangler from both 2024 and 2025 only give ratings for headlights and front crash prevention, and the model doesn't fair well on either.

Earlier this month, in a different press release, the IIHS noted the Wrangler does get a Top Safety Pick recommendation or better because of the "small overlap and headlight evaluations that carry over from previous models."