Do you all think quality has gone DOWN?

[NC_Overland]

I read all the horror stories, but including xjs, zjs, wjs, and wagoneers we are 20 Jeeps in. Aside from failures from hard use, breaking parts off road or typical age related items like starters or alternators all were trouble free aside from the 86 xj powered by the gm 2.8L v6. Biggest turd of an engine I've ever owned. No power and unreliable. For the remote locations we take our Jeeps there's no other vehicle from any manufacturer I'd trust period. Certainly not a Ford. The previous generation Tacoma and 4runner are dead reliable, but nearly impossible to fit larger than a 35" tire. Even the 35s required trimming body mounts. The latest hybrid versions seem to have reliability issues. To me there really is no other option and knock on wood I've never had an issue.

I had two 2.8ls in S10 Blazers go 300k. A lot of this is subjective.

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[Wheelin98TJ]

I had a 1996 XJ and it needed a new engine at 60k. Catastrophic failure. Hole in the block. Their quality has always been spotty. That’s the only engine failure I’ve ever had and I take care of my vehicles and I’ve had more vehicles than I can count and some work over 300k miles. Jeep quality control as always even spotty. Even then, I had to wait on a new long block because they were on back order. so many failures. 4.0l was a good engine design but it also had early failures. The good ones have survived.

I hated that vehicle. So cramped and uncomfortable and also unreliable. The rest of the drivetrain was fine, but something was always broken. See how perspective and individual experiences vary?

This is my 4th Jeep. My 04 WJ 4.7l was awesome and trouble free. My 2008 JKU Rubicon was lemon lawed and that was my last jeep for 12 years before my JT. The lemon law was also an exclusive. My only lemon law and I’ve had close to 20 brand new vehicles.

Individual experiences certainly vary.

I had a 2002 4.7L WJ that had it's problems. Dropped valve seats, rear axle bearings, blend doors, melted blower motor resistor wiring, etc.

 

[NC_Overland]

Individual experiences certainly vary.

I had a 2002 4.7L WJ that had it's problems. Dropped valve seats, rear axle bearings, blend doors, melted blower motor resistor wiring, etc.

Exactly! My last few posts probably sound like I was just posting stuff to be contrary, but it’s real experiences that I had that are outside of the norm. Well, probably except my 2008 JKU Rubicon being a lemon law buy back.

 

[DanJT]

Automobiles are getting more complicated with less robust parts, including a lot of electronics, sensors, and wires, and "optimally" designed mechanical parts that meet the minimum requirements of getting the job done while shaving ounces for mpg and saving pennies for more profit. But has quality gone down? I've heard that lament for 50+ years. Apparently every new model year is lower quality than the last.

What I miss is the simplicity of older vehicles. Even 20 years ago they were significantly simpler and easier to diagnose and repair.

Exactly, I want a 79 CJ7 with a 304 so bad, but I can buy 3 Gladdys for the price of said CJ (almost)

 

[Zachanadandy]

Exactly, I want a 79 CJ7 with a 304 so bad, but I can buy 3 Gladdys for the price of said CJ (almost)

https://images.app.goo.gl/cdSVstYHrVw3SFdu5
They aren't nearly as good as people remember and they are still dirt cheap by comparison to a JT or JL. Anyone on here that really wants one should have one already. At $14.5k I'd argue that many have a '79 CJ worth of mods... on their $50k Jeep.

 

[aldo98229]

I had a 1996 XJ and it needed a new engine at 60k. Catastrophic failure. Hole in the block. Their quality has always been spotty. That’s the only engine failure I’ve ever had and I take care of my vehicles and I’ve had more vehicles than I can count and some work over 300k miles. Jeep quality control as always even spotty. Even then, I had to wait on a new long block because they were on back order. so many failures. 4.0l was a good engine design but it also had early failures. The good ones have survived.

I hated that vehicle. So cramped and uncomfortable and also unreliable. The rest of the drivetrain was fine, but something was always broken. See how perspective and individual experiences vary?

This is my 4th Jeep. My 04 WJ 4.7l was awesome and trouble free. My 2008 JKU Rubicon was lemon lawed and that was my last jeep for 12 years before my JT. The lemon law was also an exclusive. My only lemon law and I’ve had close to 20 brand new vehicles.

Yes. Jeep quality has always been spotty.

But I used to be able to call my dealer, get an appointment within a day or two. They would diagnose the problem the same day, order the parts overnight, and do the repairs under warranty without a hassle.

Now you need ten days to two weeks for an appointment. When you drop your vehicle off chances are the won't get to look it for another week. If you are lucky, they will diagnose the issue, order the parts and, depending on the issue, wait for warranty approval from HQ, and then two to four weeks to get the parts. If you are unlucky, they won't be able to diagnose anything which means you will need to repeat the entire process all over again.

These are not one-off stories; they are commonplace these days.

Chrysler knew its quality reputation wasn't the best, so it tried to compensate by covering the repairs under warranty without questions.

Stellantis still does not have a good quality reputation, yet now it drags its feet approving warranty work, getting replacement parts, allows dealers to treat customers like dirt, nickel-and-dimes customers on the loaners, etc.

 

[NC_Overland]

Yes. Jeep quality has always been spotty.

But I used to be able to call my dealer, get an appointment within a day or two. They would diagnose the problem the same day, order the parts overnight, and do the repairs under warranty without a hassle.

Now you need ten days to two weeks for an appointment. When you drop your vehicle off chances are the won't get to look it for another week. If you are lucky, they will diagnose the issue, order the parts and, depending on the issue, wait for warranty approval from HQ, and then two to four weeks to get the parts. If you are unlucky, they won't be able to diagnose anything which means you will need to repeat the entire process all over again.

These are not one-off stories; they are commonplace these days.

Chrysler knew its quality reputation wasn't the best, so it tried to compensate by covering the repairs under warranty without questions.

Stellantis still does not have a good quality reputation, yet now it drags its feet approving warranty work, getting replacement parts, allows dealers to treat customers like dirt, nickel-and-dimes customers on the loaners, etc.

That brings up what I can’t stand with Jeep dealerships these days. They set an appointment and then let it sit for days before they get to it and most quit offering loaner vehicles for warranty repairs. It’s wild. Then to make it worse, the love to pull could not replicate because they don’t want to mess with warranty repairs. I had one pull that on me a few years back after they let it sit for days and i was without a loaner vehicle and then they had the balls to try to get me to pay a diagnostic fee. I will say that Jeep Cares was awesome and got involved and took over and it was very different after. They picked up my Jeep with a flat bed and dropped off a new Rubicon loaner and did the same in reverse when the repairs were done. I hear that Jeep cares sucks now too.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Paint quality on my 25 is closer to 1970s paint than what my 2020 and 2022 Gladiators had. The paint was smooth as glass on those two. Not a single trace of any orange peel or uneven finish. My wife's 2023 JLU paint (reign) is also perfect, smooth, glassy, no uneven finish.

My 25 has what's close to orange peel.
Not bad enough to do anything about (it is a truck) but still - poor paint quality control, IMO, considering the technology today.

When I wiped down the right front door opening sill area to put on some clear PPF on the pinch weld area - using cheap rubbing alcohol on a paper towel, I got this -
My bet is that as it left the paint area where they look things over and do sort of a "pat down" they found a flaw and did a touch-up and so it's not the same type of paint or finish and dissolved easily.
So far that's the only spot that did it.

 

[JTGuy]

That's why I get white vehicles. Cool in the summer and easy to maintain and looks the best the longest. Easy color to sell used.

 

[NC_Overland]

That's why I get white vehicles. Cool in the summer and easy to maintain and looks the best the longest. Easy color to sell used.

The problem with white trucks is you have to get a well equipped one or it looks like a fleet work truck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The problem with white trucks is you have to get a well equipped one or it looks like a fleet work truck.

Some vehicles wear it well - too bad this was totaled at 9 months and 9,000 miles, it turned out to be a rare color. Wish I had it today.
But for Jeeps - it's a very personal matter of taste, I prefer the bold, bright colors myself - as does my wife. (and most of her quilts have been made in brighter colors rather than what she calls "drab")

 

[NC_Overland]

Some vehicles wear it well - too bad this was totaled at 9 months and 9,000 miles, it turned out to be a rare color. Wish I had it today.
But for Jeeps - it's a very personal matter of taste, I prefer the bold, bright colors myself - as does my wife. (and most of her quilts have been made in brighter colors rather than what she calls "drab")

I agree. I think the Rubicons look good, but it’s the red trim. I had a white GMC Canyon All Terrain. It looked surprisingly good, but it was the black trim and red emblems. I wasn’t planning on buying a white until I saw how good it looked.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

"Tonight at 11, terrified local resident charged with shooting mail carrier."

"Well if he was just delivering mail why was he near my house?!?"

Funny stuff ^^^ that is.

My mail box is on a county road well over a mile as the crow flies from my house. And I don't use it. We are over 15 miles from any town. Its a forest. Deep isolated forest. 4WD is necessary much of the year on my 'driveway / road'. Nobody takes it unless they know it and I know them.

But then there's this: Just for kicks, and for @LouisvEarlleJT :



All in fun. Well, mostly...

Be well. Jeep on. But stay off my grass... I have a shotgun and a backhoe. LOL

Eric

 

[DanJT]

I agree. I think the Rubicons look good, but it’s the red trim. I had a white GMC Canyon All Terrain. It looked surprisingly good, but it was the black trim and red emblems. I wasn’t planning on buying a white until I saw how good it looked.

That is a thing of beautiful. shame it was totaled.

 

[Breadman]

My mail box is on a county road well over a mile as the crow flies from my house. And I don't use it. We are over 15 miles from any town. Its a forest. Deep isolated forest. 4WD is necessary much of the year on my 'driveway / road'.

Do you make all your men squeal like a pig?

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