2013 jeep wrangler abs and traction control light on

OK so I recently bought a 2013 Jeep Wrangler unlimited
sport and yesterday randomly the ABS and traction control
light came on when I had it in reverse and shifted to drive.
Thing is it only stays on for a few seconds but then goes
away and it doesn't happen every time either. The brakes
seem to be fine and everything else seems to be working
fine. So I have no idea what could be causing this.

Your Answer:

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.

  • #1

I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler unlimited. When I started it up today I noticed my ABS & TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BOTH TO BE ON! I don’t understand what it could be. I disconnected the battery to hopefully “reset” the lights and no luck. The Jeep doesn’t ride any different than it did before the lights behind on. Earlier in the day I took my grill off to install some mesh behind it and re-install gril with what seemed to be no problems. Could this have triggered something? Any suggestions please!!

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #2

I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler unlimited. When I started it up today I noticed my ABS & TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BOTH TO BE ON! I don’t understand what it could be. I disconnected the battery to hopefully “reset” the lights and no luck. The Jeep doesn’t ride any different than it did before the lights behind on. Earlier in the day I took my grill off to install some mesh behind it and re-install gril with what seemed to be no problems. Could this have triggered something? Any suggestions please!!

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

More than likely it’s a wheel speed sensor or the plug at the wheel speed sensor. The trick is figuring out which wheel. A good OBD port reader will tell you which wheel it is. I bought s blue driver and am really happy with it. If it’s the front, you will more than likely need to replace your wheel unit bearings. The speed sensor is built in. If it the rear, it’s pretty easy to swap the sensor out.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #4

any auto-parts store will read the code for free and tell you which sensor it is

  • #5

More than likely it’s a wheel speed sensor or the plug at the wheel speed sensor. The trick is figuring out which wheel. A good OBD port reader will tell you which wheel it is. I bought s blue driver and am really happy with it. If it’s the front, you will more than likely need to replace your wheel unit bearings. The speed sensor is built in. If it the rear, it’s pretty easy to swap the sensor out.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

I have a 2016 Rubicon and had the same problem that ended up being the front driver side sensor. I didn’t need to replace the wheel unit bearing. I just got the replacement sensor for like $40 at a dealership. It’s a bitch to replace just because you need to take off the caliper and disk. Are non-rubicons different?

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #6

I have a 2016 Rubicon and had the same problem that ended up being the front driver side sensor. I didn’t need to replace the wheel unit bearing. I just got the replacement sensor for like $40 at a dealership. It’s a bitch to replace just because you need to take off the caliper and disk. Are non-rubicons different?

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

It's the same for all JK's.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #7

I've had the issue a few times. If you get AutoZone or another parts store to read it for you with a scanner, their scanner needs to be able to read ABS codes or it won't find it.

Sent from my E6820TM using Tapatalk

  • #8

slightly similar issue question

I was actually going to ask y'all....

Recently on random turns my traction control light flickers and i feel the engagement in the front wheel. Out of the turn, it stops immediately and does not return. This is sporatic and just began after an alignment and new arms- upper and lower. I'm lifted and run 35s and never had the issue prior. As the light does not stay on, would a scan pick it up? Any ideas? Thanks in advance!!

  • #9

I was actually going to ask y'all....

Recently on random turns my traction control light flickers and i feel the engagement in the front wheel. Out of the turn, it stops immediately and does not return. This is sporatic and just began after an alignment and new arms- upper and lower. I'm lifted and run 35s and never had the issue prior. As the light does not stay on, would a scan pick it up? Any ideas? Thanks in advance!!

This sounds like your steering wheel needs recentered.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #11

Loose connection maybe. had it a few times .. went away after a few days.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #12

Check your battery connection. I had the same issue after I installed my winch. I double checked the battery terminals and the positive was loose. I tightened it down and no issues now.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #13

Loose connection maybe. had it a few times .. went away after a few days.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app


Check your battery connection. I had the same issue after I installed my winch. I double checked the battery terminals and the positive was loose. I tightened it down and no issues now.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

thank you... terminals seem tight but we will see i guess.

**update - terminals are tight....

Last edited: May 27, 2018

  • #14

not to hijack the thread OP....

still dealing with this traction control light coming on periodically....

  • terminals are tight
  • a few exterior electrical items hooked up to battery
  • recent alignment

any further ideas? think an OBD2 would reveal anything if no lights remain on for more than 5-8 seconds?

  • #15

not to hijack the thread OP....

still dealing with this traction control light coming on periodically....

  • terminals are tight
  • a few exterior electrical items hooked up to battery
  • recent alignment

any further ideas? think an OBD2 would reveal anything if no lights remain on for more than 5-8 seconds?

Yes, I think the OBD will log the code. A good code reader will also tell you which wheel sensor is throwing the code

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

  • #16

Memorial Day our ABS/TCS lit up, would clear sometimes with the TCS button (2016 JKUR), but recur. Noticed the MPG declining on the dash, which I've seen cited as a bad rear sensor. No codes on the dash with the 3 ignition key readout, no codes on a scangauge or Bluetooth ELM327 dongle. Took it in on Tuesday, diagnosed with a bad LF wheel bearing and replaced under warranty. Also got a new rad for a persistent coolant smell without obvious leak.

Might be time to give a more expensive HF scanner a try

  • #17

Will do up the scan next. Thanks

  • #18

Abs & traction control light!

Alrighty add me to the list with these lights... my situation is a little different though. Didn’t want to make yet another thread for this if it may be the something similar.. so here goes...

On the way to work this morning, traction control and abs lights came on at a stop light. Did t fee like either of those systems engaged at all. After work, lights went out before I got outta the parking lot, then came back on after about 10 miles. Still no other symptoms. Got home and wiggled speed sensor wires and Abs connectors. Lights went out before I got outta my driveway for a test drive. About 3 miles later, lights came back on again, then turned off, but traction control started engaging randomly all the way back home, and my brakes went to shit. Feels like grinding in the pedal. Lights are off, but brakes feel like shit and traction control engages with any decent throttle input. No codes present when the lights were on. No stored codes. Wife is about to pop and hospital is 2 hours away. Definitely need to get this thing running good ASAP. Any thoughts?

Edit: battery terminals are solid, Jeep has 62k miles (unit bearings?), and it’s been raining. Hopefully it’s just a little water intrusion but not good either way.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE

Last edited: Dec 16, 2020

  • #19

Alrighty add me to the list with these lights... my situation is a little different though. Didn’t want to make yet another thread for this if it may be the something similar.. so here goes...

On the way to work this morning, traction control and abs lights came on at a stop light. Did t fee like either of those systems engaged at all. After work, lights went out before I got outta the parking lot, then came back on after about 10 miles. Still no other symptoms. Got home and wiggled speed sensor wires and Abs connectors. Lights went out before I got outta my driveway for a test drive. About 3 miles later, lights came back on again, then turned off, but traction control started engaging randomly all the way back home, and my brakes went to shit. Feels like grinding in the pedal. Lights are off, but brakes feel like shit and traction control engages with any decent throttle input. No codes present when the lights were on. No stored codes. Wife is about to pop and hospital is 2 hours away. Definitely need to get this thing running good ASAP. Any thoughts?

Edit: battery terminals are solid, Jeep has 62k miles (unit bearings?), and it’s been raining. Hopefully it’s just a little water intrusion but not good either way.

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE

Unit bearing play?

  • #20

Rookie question, but how do you check this? Put it on jacks and yank on the wheel?

Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE

Why is the ABS and traction control light on in my Jeep?

The ABS and Traction Control lights come on whenever the vehicle's computer or PCM detects a malfunction, a faulty wheel sensor, or other mechanical failures. These warning lights do not imply anything severe by themselves but may point to a graver problem when paired with the main brake light going off.

Is it safe to drive with ABS and traction light on?

If the TCS and the ABS warning lights both come on, along with the red main brake warning light, you should not drive the car until the problem has been fixed. Your entire braking system is affected, and may not be able to stop your vehicle when you need it to. Have your vehicle towed to a repair shop.