Jeep Finally Fixed The Wrangler's Biggest Safety Issue

With an updated frame rail for 2026, the Gladiator and Wrangler have a reduced rollover risk.

2026 Jeep Wrangler Crash Test

Photo by: IIHS

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Mar 6, at 10:01am ET

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the breakdown

The Jeep Wrangler has long had a high rollover risk due to its tall, narrow design.
For 2026, Jeep updated the front frame rail to reduce tipping in crashes.
The change earned an 'Acceptable' small-overlap rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Jeep Wrangler has a bit of a reputation for being unsafe in a crash. With its high center of gravity, narrow track, and boxy shape, the rugged SUV historically had a higher rollover risk than nearly every other crossover and SUV in its segment—about 26.7 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But that may be changing. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Jeep has addressed one of the Wrangler’s biggest safety concerns: its rollover risk. As first reported by Road & Track, the IIHS says the 2026 Wrangler "remained upright during the driver-side small overlap crash test, resolving a longstanding issue with the popular SUV." Much success!

You can see how the 2026 Wrangler performs in the official IIHS crash test video:

So what changed? According to the IIHS, the fix comes down to an updated frame rail. The same upgrade was also fitted to Jeep Gladiator models for 2026. All Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles built after October 2025 have the revised frame rail design.

With the rollover issue largely addressed, the Wrangler earned an "Acceptable" rating in the small-overlap crash test. The IIHS notes that this result is respectable for SUVs in the segment, though there’s still a high risk of injury to the front passenger’s right foot and lower leg in certain crashes. As a result, the Wrangler falls well short of qualifying for a Top Safety Pick award.

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Still, the improvement is a big upgrade for the Wrangler. Previous crash tests—like this one from 2022—showed the Wrangler tipping dramatically upon front-impact. Even after a 2020 update to supposedly address the issue, the SUV still received a "Marginal" rating in 2022 due to rollover risk and a significant chance of injury to the driver’s left leg and foot.

Motor1's Take: Wrangler fans can rest a little easier knowing that Jeep has finally addressed one of the SUV’s most persistent safety concerns.

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Source: IIHS via Road & Track

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