2021 Gladiator makes a good list: 10 Reliable Jeeps That Are Known For Their Low Running Costs

[Lunentucker]

Other than some loose fasteners and an early single cylinder misfire that was quickly abated, my '21 has been flawless.

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[DanW]

i trust JD powers bout as much as a i trust the "20k mileage guarantee" on synthetic motor oil bottles. ?

Actually, some of those oils have made it to 20k without serious degradation, even in a DI turbo application. So, yeah.

My brother´s 2020 was trouble free the entire time he owned it (3 years) and he did the Jeep wave oil changes and a couple with Walmart oil/filters. The only other things he did were air and cabin filters (once, each) and tire rotations. He had it for 40k miles before selling it. So I would bet that he paid less than the $617 per year. He did buy tires just before selling it, but the old ones still had life left in them. I´d bet he was well below that amount, in reality. Of course he kicks himself every day for selling that truck. He is talking about a new 2024 in the spring.

 

[Vtur]

Maybe because we're just tired of complaining and fixed some issues ourselves. Or most warranty already voided due to mods ??‍

 

[Throwback]

Well, at least I know I won't have issues with power window switches (crank) or automatic transmission SNAFUs (manual). The valve noise is a bit more ominous...

 

[chorky]

It's an article from 2023,
it takes historical data to get maintenance costs - you can't take a 2024 model and in June 2024 have historical maintenance cost data (and while in warranty - what's to spend except oil changes, etc.)
and
this isn't coming only from JD Power.

But is referencing a 2021 even valid? Most of those still might fall under the jeep wave free oil changes. Do they also take into account the pre-paid full services and extended warranties for those like me? Or is this only looking at out of pocket expense? Depending on those metrics, it could be highly accurate, or highly skewed.

 

[Willpower1]

I’ve got 43k miles on mine. So far, it has been every bit as trusty as the 2 Toyota FJs I‘ve owned.
My Mojave has been rock steady reliable and trouble free. One of my favorite vehicles I’ve ever owned.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Other than some loose fasteners and an early single cylinder misfire that was quickly abated, my '21 has been flawless.

I seem to remember there's a link to torque values in the forums here for some of the fasteners on these - I'll see if I can find it for you.

 

[Toyfrog]

My 21 Majave has had the rear shocks replaced, almost all of the front suspension replaced, still waiting on the the front shocks to come in. Some how leaks power steering fluid, even though the dealership can’t find a leak and has mushy breaks, but the dealership said they are fine. ?

 

[Mojave2021]

But is referencing a 2021 even valid? Most of those still might fall under the jeep wave free oil changes. Do they also take into account the pre-paid full services and extended warranties for those like me? Or is this only looking at out of pocket expense? Depending on those metrics, it could be highly accurate, or highly skewed.

I was thinking the same thing. I had to replace the right rear axle on my 21 four times until they got it right but $0 in costs as I was under warranty the entire time (luckily). Comparing a vehicle likely under warranty still vs ones 10 years old makes no sense.

 

[Redleg37]

My '13 JK has been generally reliable; it had a heater core go bad after 9 years, the thermostat and washer fluid reservoir had to be replaced at 10 years. The heat isn't working right again, and I suspect they put the wrong thermostat in at the dealership because the engine isn't warming up all the way now. Other than that, no issues.

My 15' cherokee has had lots of problems over the last year. It's constantly in and out the shop, but we got a dealer lifetime warranty with it so it doesn't cost anything to fix. But yeah, once it hit 115k miles everything on it started to break.

No issues on the 23 gladiator thus far, but it only has 7k miles.

My old YJ had a habit of catching on fire whenever it felt like. We eventually gave it to my cousin, an auto mechanic. He got it working again, and sold it to a guy who was going to do an engine swap. He stored it in a barn. The barn mysteriously caught fire. She died how she lived, on fire.

 

[seven30]

It's an article from 2023,
it takes historical data to get maintenance costs - you can't take a 2024 model and in June 2024 have historical maintenance cost data (and while in warranty - what's to spend except oil changes, etc.)
and
this isn't coming only from JD Power.


Why? They get their data by polling owners (like me, for example).
I've had both a 2020 and a 2022 now, started in November 2019, and I have to totally agree with both reliability and with low maintenance costs. The only money I've spent is money I've chosen to spend. I've not spent a dime on either than I didn't choose to, and maintenance is cheap - you can do all fluids and that sort of thing for way under the numbers they talk about. It will be a great while before I'd ever get into the $600/year on maintenance.
Not cheap to buy, but unless you modify them (which is YOUR decision, not a cost of ownership), there's little maintenance expense - oil, filters, fluids of other types, wiper blades.

Well my late bone stock 2021 Mojave is an exception. Meticulous oil changes (sadly it was 0w-20 for warranty) and at 72K miles right cam total failure all high lift lobes. Left bank perfect. Mine is a MT and engine gets wound up more between gears but that's jeeps design point. OTOH my 2000 Cherokee has 286K and runs perfect. But then its not a Chrysler engine either. It could be a cam defect or the design is right on the edge and cannot take the extra stress of being behind a MT.

EDIT: My MT clutch is still fine as are my original brake pads. I will add its had a tick since about 8K but dealer told me "they all do that". Hear that JD Powers? We need transparent valve covers.

Here is a close up of two of the right bank cam lobes. All six looked exactly the same.

 

[MPMB]

Wait, you guys are doing maintenance?

:D

We're just below 50k on the '21. I should probably take a peek at the gears.

With the bigger tires and lift, getting under it without needing to jack it up is nice. I think I can even fit on a creeper.

For convenience back in WA, I had a local shop do oil changes. But in the last year or two, the prices jumped up a bit, about $100 for an oil change. I got oil off AMZN cheaper than Costco or Walmart and the filters; totaled less than $50. Why is the air filter such a PITA? We're still on screws here, Stellantis?

Now I gotta get something like this for when I work under the hood.

 

[Borismtngoat]

I would be interested to know why the 21 is the model year they chose, hell any of the vehicle years they chose. My 2010 JKU was reliable and gave me no issues while I owned it, so has my 2020 Gladiator. The money spent has all been to upgrade/replace worn out components for off-roading.

My assumption is, they were referring to the diesel edition in the article, so they went with 21. The diesel wasn’t out in 20. That or maybe they don’t do first year reviews since they historically have more recalls till they get it right.

 

[seven30]

Actually, some of those oils have made it to 20k without serious degradation, even in a DI turbo application. So, yeah.

My brother´s 2020 was trouble free the entire time he owned it (3 years) and he did the Jeep wave oil changes and a couple with Walmart oil/filters. The only other things he did were air and cabin filters (once, each) and tire rotations. He had it for 40k miles before selling it. So I would bet that he paid less than the $617 per year. He did buy tires just before selling it, but the old ones still had life left in them. I´d bet he was well below that amount, in reality. Of course he kicks himself every day for selling that truck. He is talking about a new 2024 in the spring.

Smart man your brother for replacing it at 40K. But car in the 60s were going well past 40K so its kind of expected todays cars are trouble free for well over that. Now, if it was trouble free at 400K we would be impressed.

 

[Killroy Was Here]

Tacoma, 4Runner, XTerra, Frontier, Bronco, Ranger, etc. Usually reliability is benchmarked against other vehicles in the class, not other vehicles of the same brand.

Seriously, you use the Bronco as a pillar of quality?
Forgetting all the of them that their engines ate valves, as well as the fiasco with the removable tops that were total junk are we?

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