YJ · TJ · JK · JL

Wrangler's four chassis-code eras

Square headlights, coil springs, four doors, electrification, and factory extreme-performance variants each changed Wrangler without erasing its open-body identity.

Evidence status
provisional
Coverage
partial ยท 19 July 2026
Market
US-first; exceptions labeled
01

YJ broke the visual rule

The 1987 YJ remains the only Wrangler generation defined by square headlights.

02

TJ changed more underneath

Round headlights returned, but coil springs replacing leaf springs were the deeper engineering break.

03

JK changed the market

The factory four-door Unlimited opened Wrangler to families and daily drivers; the 2012 Pentastar engine corrected the early JK's most common powertrain complaint.