2020 Gladiator Rubicon with "questionable" service history

[akromafire]

I don't know if you are allowed to post Carfax here, as I have been browsing the forum for a couple months, but have yet to make my purchase.

Basically this is a 2020 Rubicon with 41k miles on it. It is lifted with a Mopar lift, and has 37s on it. I do NOT know if that was done by the dealership.

I am going to attempt to attach the carfax, but there was a bunch of work before 5k miles, then bounced around with a few more owners, none owning for long, before my family friend bought it. They are offering me a smoking deal (they are listing for 36k but I can get it for closer to 30k) but they have only owned it for 2 years, driven 5k miles, and only have noticed how bad it wanders. I Suspect that the wander is why no one has kept it, but I don't know for sure.

I need to know if I should go down the rabbit hole of the issues with wander, and assume the issue with the engine was resolved, or if I should sadly pass and wait for another one. If I have to guess it also still has the aluminum steering box, but I don't have that information yet, as I live like 20 hours away.

Sponsored

 

[Badunit]

First off, if this is a family friend can't you just ask them if it has any issues and why they want to sell it? Or do you not trust this person to tell you the whole truth?

What I saw in those first 6K miles was an engine that wasn't running right. The messed with it a few times then they replaced the fuel injectors and soon after the first owner sold it. Maybe they sold it because it still had a problem or maybe they just got tired of it and didn't trust it or maybe some other reason.

Three years into its life it needed new batteries (normal) and either it still had an engine problem or the dealer talked the new owner into unnecessary injector and throttle body cleaning. Maybe it has a hesitation problem like some people have reported and for which no fix has been found?

There was some inspection of the steering but a lot of people aren't used to solid front axle vehicles and Jeeps in particular and how they don't handle like sports cars. It probably has loose steering. Nothing a steering gear and/or new parts can't cure. Hopefully your family friend will tell you if it is all over the road or has death wobble or whatever.

 

[akromafire]

So I am on mobile for the next couple hours, but wanted to reply back. Thanks for taking the time to listen some stuff out.
It isn’t that I can’t ask or trust them, they just won’t know lol. They are extremely wealthy, yet never maintain their cars (bald tires on the Yukon Denali, never any gas in the Lexus or the F-350). They bought it for their kid, who has a 3 mile commute, and they took it to Moab twice. I mean, 6k miles in 2 years, they just don’t drive it, so that is why I don’t know a ton.
If it is the steering issue, and first owner had the molar lift, my thoughts are maybe people just got fed up with the dealers not helping and got rid of it. If the engine doesn’t seem concerning, based on the service, I am willing to throw money at adjustable arms and whatnot.
Also plan to have a pre purchase done, it’s the engine having issues that has me concerned. Since I will never see interstate when I own it, I can deal with the wandering until I get it settled. I drove it, but only 15 miles and since I am used to tight IFS, I don’t know if it was super bad or not.

 

[brsnow2585]

I'd suspect the steering damper first for the wandering. If it's got 37s the and the stock damper I'd imagine it'd be squirrelly. Surprisingly, the Mopar lift doesn't come with an upgrade damper

 

[akromafire]

It does have a fox steering dampener, that I assume was put on at some point during the early days of trying to fix the issue. It’s really all the owners that have me worried, in that I don’t need a truck with a bad engine. I am going to have a shop do a check for pre purchase, just seeing if I’m crazy for considering it.

 

[brsnow2585]

Just my 2 cents, I'd take a pass on this one. You said they were very well off and don't have the sense to keep fuel in $100k cars..... See where I'm going

 

[akromafire]

Just my 2 cents, I'd take a pass on this one. You said they were very well off and don't have the sense to keep fuel in $100k cars..... See where I'm going

I hear ya, and I very well may take a pass. If they had it long enough to do any damage I wouldn’t even consider it. Also would be getting an independent shop to do an inspection, really wondering why injectors were done and why no one has kept this thing lol.

 

[brsnow2585]

I hear ya, and I very well may take a pass. If they had it long enough to do any damage I wouldn’t even consider it. Also would be getting an independent shop to do an inspection, really wondering why injectors were done and why no one has kept this thing lol.

Lifted and big tires, spoiled little rich kid, probably did some dumb S! at some point.

 

[hayduke-TX]

I'd pass. Probably better and less risky options out there for not a whole lot more money.

 

[bgott]

So I am on mobile for the next couple hours, but wanted to reply back. Thanks for taking the time to listen some stuff out.
It isn’t that I can’t ask or trust them, they just won’t know lol. They are extremely wealthy, yet never maintain their cars (bald tires on the Yukon Denali, never any gas in the Lexus or the F-350). They bought it for their kid, who has a 3 mile commute, and they took it to Moab twice. I mean, 6k miles in 2 years, they just don’t drive it, so that is why I don’t know a ton.
If it is the steering issue, and first owner had the molar lift, my thoughts are maybe people just got fed up with the dealers not helping and got rid of it. If the engine doesn’t seem concerning, based on the service, I am willing to throw money at adjustable arms and whatnot.
Also plan to have a pre purchase done, it’s the engine having issues that has me concerned. Since I will never see interstate when I own it, I can deal with the wandering until I get it settled. I drove it, but only 15 miles and since I am used to tight IFS, I don’t know if it was super bad or not.

They took it Moab twice? You do realize Moab has rocks and trails and other things you can use to really destroy a vehicle, don’t you?

Sponsored