hot take: Jeep reliability

[WILDHOBO]

Yup. If you start installing aftermarket parts that put one or more aspect of the vehicle performance outside of the factory specifications, sooner or later (regardless of whether or not you’re willing to admit it online), you’re going to run into an issue caused by something that you installed.

I have:

-Hydro-locked an engine on a ~1 year old car with a cold air intake/filter on a stick.

-Snapped a drive-shaft u-joint due to an excessive angle in relation to the transfer case and differential output shafts.

Those are just the first two “good” ones that come to mind.

Yep, if you modify it to make it do some things way better, other things will be compromised. Don’t get me wrong. Mine is, and its performance is decreased just a little, and I love everything I’ve done. No regrets. But on flat land with no off roading planned, I’d have bought a Willy’s and not touched it.

Sponsored

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

That's one reason I watch what I put on or modify. Most things I do keep things within specs, such alignment specs (and specs most don't even realize exist or can't explain).

There's nothing on mine that would have a negative impact on anything other than payload (extra weight).
Most of my car mods are to enhance safety or actually improve things over factory.

I'll make no wheel or tire changes without considering the impact on steering or handling.

I do need to come up with a hood scoop for one of my cars because the previous owner stuck the carbs up through the hood and it's like having two huge rain gauges sticking up there. Keep that thing out of the rain!

Said pretty much everyone that ever modified a vehicle.

 

[f33d]

Bumpers winch and tires is as far as I go. Anymore then that is when I need to star putting serious money and upgrades which will degrade my lifespan.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Said pretty much everyone that ever modified a vehicle.

I do watch such things. I was a tech for decades. Some of the stuff I see changed on cars and trucks is just scary.
When I say it, I mean it.
Come and check out my cars (or my truck)

 

[Dryfly24]

Hell, I just want to know what a “Hot take” is…?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Hell, I just want to know what a “Hot take” is…?

I had to look up the formal definition - I sort of knew, but wondered how it applied here.

a piece of commentary, typically produced quickly in response to a recent event, whose primary purpose is to attract attention.
"his hot take on the latest column"

Sort of says it all?

 

[NC_Overland]

They’re definitely not reliable. Mine has been in the shop a lot. It’s had the entire rear and replaced (track loc 3.73 D44), the steering gear twice (poor design-finally right), and I still have to take it back in for my intermittent service 4wd light, slamming into park and drive, rough cold idle, and speaker vibrations from the alpine system. It’s already been in for the stuff I’m taking it back in for several times, but my 3/36 is about to run out so I want to be sure it’s fixed or at least documented again. I’ve never had a differential go out, but it was making bad noises that kept getting worse.

my JKU Rubicon was a buy back. I said I’d never buy another one because the dealerships are so bad, but here I am again. I love my gladiator, but the could not duplicate shit they pull will drive you bananas.

2020 Overland auto. Basically stock. Rubicon take off suspension with 285s on the stock wheels instead of 255s.

 

[glassjawkid32]

I think the rep comes somewhat justified(I'm not defecting). But when you have things like rocker arms that are failing on plenty of these engines and it's been going on for years. That's not going to help your credibility as a manufacturer. That being said pretty much every manufacturer has issues so pick your poison. This poison fits my lifestyle the best.

 

[Mister Lamb]

Modded or not, out of the womb it's a Chrysler product so expectations need to be adjusted accordingly. Just know that going in.

Fiat* which is inherently worse

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Interesting how personal bias, and what people perceive based on what they hear on the internet or from friends and peers impact claims while facts are often a different animal.
Too often beliefs are based on the past as well - years if not decades ago. Not being the very top to some means a brand is horrible.

The Fiat Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 18th out of 32 for all car brands.

In a recent Telegraph survey of the best brands for reliability, Fiat came an impressive 12th, with 112 problems per 100 vehicles. This is up from 18th the previous year.

ReliabilityIndex also rank Fiat pretty highly at 15th with a reliability index of 99. This is better than the industry average.

Of course people can quote the blogs and rags out there that pretend to be experts, but it's not always as bad as people claim.

According to CR, Jeep is worse than Fiat - because of the Gladiator. Really?
I must be the most lucky person on the planet. I think I'll buy a power ball ticket tonight, as I can't say i've ever had a major issue with any Jeep vehicle I've owned, neither has my brother, or my son. In fact, the only issue my son has had is the radio - and that was several years after he bought it.

Reliability is such a subjective thing, especially when looking on the internet, forums, or asking people.

 

[Dryfly24]

Interesting how personal bias, and what people perceive based on what they hear on the internet or from friends and peers impact claims while facts are often a different animal.
Too often beliefs are based on the past as well - years if not decades ago. Not being the very top to some means a brand is horrible.

The Fiat Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 18th out of 32 for all car brands.

In a recent Telegraph survey of the best brands for reliability, Fiat came an impressive 12th, with 112 problems per 100 vehicles. This is up from 18th the previous year.

ReliabilityIndex also rank Fiat pretty highly at 15th with a reliability index of 99. This is better than the industry average.

Of course people can quote the blogs and rags out there that pretend to be experts, but it's not always as bad as people claim.

According to CR, Jeep is worse than Fiat - because of the Gladiator. Really?
I must be the most lucky person on the planet. I think I'll buy a power ball ticket tonight, as I can't say i've ever had a major issue with any Jeep vehicle I've owned, neither has my brother, or my son. In fact, the only issue my son has had is the radio - and that was several years after he bought it.

Reliability is such a subjective thing, especially when looking on the internet, forums, or asking people.

Well speaking strictly for myself - take it for what it’s worth - reliability means above all whether or not the vehicle is going to leave me stranded somewhere with hundreds or thousands of dollars needed to fix it.

Many of these surveys that measure reliability lump all complaints into their matrix. So going by that, so far this Jeep has had more issues than pretty much every Toyota I’ve had since 1987.

But when it comes down to it, all the little issues I’ve experienced with my Jeep really don't concern me much. Short of the caliper housing bolt that fell off in the middle of nowhere and came close to stranding me, but that was a very simple fix I could take of myself.

As far as I'm concerned as long as the truck keeps performing as it has well into the next decade I’ll be happy. I can live with having to repair a sun visor or side view mirror that won’t move side to side using the power button. As long as it keeps starting when I push the button and the engine keeps working as smoothly as it has, Im not concerned…

 

[NC_Overland]

According to CR, Jeep is worse than Fiat - because of the Gladiator. Really?
I must be the most lucky person on the planet. I think I'll buy a power ball ticket tonight, as I can't say i've ever had a major issue with any Jeep vehicle I've owned, neither has my brother, or my son. In fact, the only issue my son has had is the radio - and that was several years after he bought it.

Reliability is such a subjective thing, especially when looking on the internet, forums, or asking people.

Things like the steering gear TSB figure into it. The dealerships pulling the could not duplicate BS on me twice before the third trip and the shop manager rode with me and heard my rear end making obvious popping sounds on turns. Then they pulled the diff cover and the fluid was full of metal and they replaced the entire assembly. At least I got new rear brakes. My point is they would have had two less dealership warranty visits if the tech did his job the first time.

 

[DAVECS1]

Rear window, axle seals, steering gear, aux battery system, rear locker, engine misfire, and valvetrain, front suspension torque

I like my JEEP but it is not the best put together vehicle on the road.

 

[NachoRuby]

Just the axle seal so far for me. Knock on wood. The JK has been pretty good too.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

But when it comes down to it, all the little issues I’ve experienced with my Jeep really don't concern me much. Short of the caliper housing bolt that fell off in the middle of nowhere and came close to stranding me, but that was a very simple fix I could take of myself.

There's actually a TSB for the rear caliper bolts. I saw that and thought OMG! Really?

So far on mine -
bed cover (vendor issue, IMO)
Steering gear
Battery charge thing - still unsure of what's up but suspect it's batteries - like the said was wrong with my wife's WK2.
But the batteries have always started it and except for trying to figure out the ESS constantly saying "battery charging" I'd not have even figured there was anything wrong........... I supposed at least until it ended up like my wife's, where it wouldn't start/crank.

Sponsored