2026 Jeep Wrangler: Safer?

The Jeep Wrangler has a reputation for being unsafe when it comes to accidents. With its high center of gravity, narrow track and boxy shape, this rugged SUV has historically had a higher rollover risk than nearly all other crossovers and SUVs in its segment—about 26.7 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But that may change. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Jeep has addressed one of the Wrangler’s biggest safety concerns: the risk of rollovers. As first reported by Roads & TracksIIHS said the 2026 Wrangler “remained upright during a driver-side low-impact crash test, resolving a long-standing problem with the popular SUV.” Great success!

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

So what changed? According to IIHS, the improvement occurs in the updated frame rail. The same upgrades were made to the Jeep Gladiator models for 2026. All Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles built after October 2025 have a revised frame rail design.

With most rollover issues resolved, the Wrangler earned an “Acceptable” rating in the small-overlap crash test. The IIHS notes that these results are quite good for an SUV in its segment, although there is still a high risk of injury to the front passenger’s right leg and lower leg in certain crashes. As a result, the Wrangler failed to qualify for the Top Safety Pick award.

Still, the improvements are a big improvement for the Wrangler. Previous crash tests—such as those conducted in 2022—showed the Wrangler to experience drastic frontal impacts. Even after updates in 2020 to address these issues, the SUV still received a “Marginal” rating in 2022 due to rollover risk and significant possible injury to the driver’s left leg.

Motorcycle Pickup1: Wrangler fans can rest easier knowing that Jeep has finally addressed one of the SUV’s most persistent safety issues.