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Jeep Hidden Easter Eggs on Our Favorite Models
Countless YouTube videos have been made on the many hidden Jeep Easter Egg locations on modern-era vehicles from this off-road automaker, and we look at some of the most interesting and hard-to-find Jeep Easter Eggs today. Easter eggs are interesting little hidden gems that designers incorporate into car designs for owners to find. They often have historical significance.
For example, if you own a Jeep, hidden animals may be hiding as Easter Eggs for you to find that remind you of your vehicle’s go-anywhere ability. There are many Jeep Easter Eggs on Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Compass, and Renegade models, so let’s find out on which cars to look for them and where they are hidden.
JL Jeep Wrangler Easter Egg Locations (2018-present)
There are a lot of Jeep Wrangler Easter Eggs, and it’s the Jeep model with the most of them overall. This selection includes the JT Gladiator as well, the truck version of the Wrangler:
- “JL” and the Morse Code for it inside the trunk of the JL Wrangler, on the left panel below the power outlet.
- A 1941 flat-fender Willys Jeep on the gauge cluster display when you go to the trip information screen. You can only just see it in the background. This only applies with the Technology Package fitted. This is also found on some other Jeeps, like the Grand Cherokee.
- A 1941 Willys morphs into a modern Wrangler on the cluster display when you start up the vehicle, and a little Jeep drives across the bottom of the screen. You’ll also see this little Jeep drive across the bottom of the Off Road Pages screen on the center infotainment display when you select this menu option.
- Three notches on the center of the steering wheel that echo the original 1941 Willys’ 3-spoke steering wheel.
- A 1941 Willys scattered across the vehicle, starting with the bottom corner of the windshield, climbing a hill. This Easter Egg is found on the windshields of most modern Jeeps. On Rubicon trims, there are a lot more of the 1941 Jeep: on each of the wheels and on the shifter knob. If you have the slush mats fitted, you’ll also find it in the center of the rear slush mat. Sadly, the Gladiator only has a picture of the modern Gladiator on the shifter, not the classic one.
- The maps and symbols on the slush maps. Staying with the slush mats for a moment, you’ll see topographic maps on them, and symbols like a pickaxe and shovel in the rear and a dinosaur skull in the front on the passenger side.
- The signature 7-slot Jeep grille repeated on the cowl grille at the base of the windshield. This was the very first Easter Egg Jeep ever put on one of its vehicles, starting with the TJ Wrangler.
- A pair of flip-flops on the cowl panel as a tribute to veteran automotive journalist Rick Péwé, who provided design input for the JL Wrangler and who is always seen in flip-flops or sandals.
- The Jeep grille in the center of the halogen headlights; this Easter Egg is absent from the LED headlights.
- The dirt bike tread in the bed, up against the cab, because the JL lead designer is an avid dirt bike fan. The tread is found on both sides, and lines up with where you have to aim the front tire of a dirt bike if you want to load two of them side by side.
- The heart and “418” at the back edge of the bed, which is a tribute to Toledo (area code 419), where the Gladiator is built.
MP/552 Jeep Compass (2016 to present)
On this Jeep, hidden Easter Eggs abound:
- “Since 1941” on the infotainment display on vehicle startup.
- A gecko hiding beneath the one windshield wiper arm.
- Morse code saying “sand, snow, rivers, rocks” on the driver’s left dead pedal.
- Various Jeep grilles scattered throughout the vehicle, including in all the door pockets, in the trunk cubby, and on the back trunk panel – visible in the rearview mirror while driving.
- American flags hidden in the rear pillar vents on either side of the interior.
- The Loch Ness Monster in the rear window glass.
KL Jeep Cherokee (2014-2023)
- A Jeep grille under the hood on the front cross member.
- “Since 1941” on the lower steering wheel spoke.
- A map of the Rubicon trail under the passenger front seat, when you lift the cushion to access the under-seat storage area.
- A 1941 Willys on the windscreen base, and of a slightly different interpretation than the one found on many other Jeeps.
WL Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Eggs (2021 to present)
- A 7-slot motive under the center-console lid – a nod to the Jeep 7-slot grille.
- A map of the M1 (Woodward Ave) area of Detroit, which was the first paved road in the country. The Jeep was also built in Detroit.
- A 1941 Willys within the fuel door flap.
- A 1941 Willys in the left rear side glass.
- A WL Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L in the right rear side glass.
- A dinosaur skull like the one on the Wrangler’s slush mat when you order the all-weather floor mats.
- “Since 1941” on the steering wheel.
- A topographical map in the storage compartment of some trims.
- A 1941 Willys in the cluster on startup, but it is easy to miss.
WS Jeep Grand Wagoneer (2023-present)
- “Merica” script in the center grille above the front-facing camera.
- A 1941 Willys on the driver’s side of the grille.
- A “Jeep” script on the exterior mirror housings – the only place on the Grand Wagoneer where you will find the Jeep name.
- A Grand Wagoneer icon and “Est. 1963” on the side of the dashboard when you open the driver’s door.
- A “586” script on the inside of the rocker panel when you open the door. This is the area code for Warren, Michigan, where the Grand Wagoneer is built.
- A “1963” tag in the sand on the infotainment screen when the vehicle is in Relax mode and in the Aquarium mode.
- A Jeep grille coming up out of the fire in the Fireplace mode on the passenger side screen.
Jeep Renegade (2015-2023)
The Jeep Renegade is no longer sold here, but it had an unusually large number of Easter Eggs:
- The Jeep grille and the shape of gas cans in its taillights.
- A little spider going “Ciao, Baby!” within the fuel filler flap, in a nod to its Italian roots and engine from Fiat.
- Bigfoot hiking over the rear wiper motor housing in the hatch door.
- “To new adventures” text around the ignition start button.
- A map of Moab, Utah on the rubber mat of the open center console storage area.
- A Jeep grille on the speaker grille, on both sides of the rearview mirror housing, and on the inside of the hatch panel.
- Mud splatters on the tachometer to represent the redline.
- “Since 1941” above the center infotainment display.
FAQs
Q: How do I find the hidden animal on my Jeep?
A: If you have a Renegade, look within the filler flap for a spider and on the rear window for a Sasquatch. The Compass has a Loch Ness Monster in the rear window and a gecko under the windshield wiper arm. Some after-market floor mats have a dinosaur skull on them.
Q: Is it true that every Jeep has a hidden animal?
A: No, but most of them do, especially the current models.
Q: Do all Jeeps have different Easter eggs?
A: All modern Jeeps have some Easter Eggs hidden on them, with the Wrangler and Gladiator having the most.
Q: Do all Jeeps have hidden ducks?
A: Jeeps have several hidden animals, but not hidden ducks. Wrangler owners do randomly place rubber ducks on other Jeep Wranglers in a tradition called “ducking” as a sign of community and fun.
Final Thoughts
A Jeep Easter Egg is not always easy to find, and some have escaped notice for years before fans noticed them. The off-road brand continues to incorporate many Easter Eggs in its vehicles, and it’s always great fun looking for them. If you own a Jeep, hidden Easter Eggs are part of the ownership experience, and we challenge you to track them all down. Our list is not exhaustive, but should lead you to most of our favorites.
About the author
Cobus F. Potgieter
Reviews and Features Editor
Cobus F. Potgieter is a Reviews and Features Editor at Autoblog covering new car reviews, and technology and historical features. He moved to motoring media full time in 2021 after a career as a public relations practitioner and joined The Arena Group in June 2025.