Over the years you may have heard a ton of Jeep users say, “It’s a Jeep issue, it’ll be hard for you to understand.” However, for generations of automobile lovers, the attraction of the Jeep model has proved to be quite obvious. The Off-road potential and modern styling have attracted a number of car owners to Jeep. The Jeep Brand also boasts of having such a rich history, and if you are interested in the reliability of the Jeep this guide will definitely help you.
Purchasing a Jeep vehicle is a practice that should be done with a lot of research as well as care. The Jeep CJ model left a definitive mark after World War II. The authentic Jeep Cherokee model was quite popular in the 80s and 90s era. Over the last few decades, Jeep has continued to manufacture small, vehicles that are very affordable and perform wonderfully especially when the road is graveled.
The truth is, dependability is not a hallmark of the Jeep brand. This could be quite worrying especially for Jeep’s less exemplary models.
During World War II, Jeep was built specifically for the military. The military needed a vehicle that was quite light and rugged with the potential to move around easily over rough terrain. After the war, things began to change and the Jeep manufacturing company began to experiment with modern designs, including a vehicle that could actually move around while underwater.
The Jeep vehicle has really changed and today the entire brand is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). In previous years, FCA was popularly known for manufacturing vehicle engines of very high quality. This is like the 4.0L. FCA still produces amazing engines, however, these engines cannot compare to how amazing they once were. A number of drivers today are wondering how reliable the Jeep vehicle is, ever since Fiat took over the brand.
When first designed the Jeep car was very reliable, however, the new models that people have become accustomed to are actually dealing with a ton of issues. It is not clear if this is because the cars were manufactured for only one single purpose during the war and now, the demands and assumptions have risen. However, what is very easy to understand is that when scrutinized closely, the reliability of the Jeep, unfortunately, has significantly dropped.
In this article, we take some time to cover the reliability of Jeep vehicles. This article will help you make the most informed decision when you are shopping for your vehicle.
Reports detailing the reliability of the Jeep
In the most recent dependability review that was released by the Reliability Index, the Jeep brand was placed at the 29th position out of 40 vehicle manufacturers. The Jeep had a reliability score of 173. This score is actually not really below the average that is set by the industry. In fact, this vehicle has similar scores to popular vehicles like the Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. However, the score is still not as great.
In the reliability index Jeep models that were not yet 3-years old enacted perfectly with less than 25% of car owners presenting any issues with their cars. If there were any issues that occurred, they were not serious and it only took a little while to fix the problem. However, car owners of Jeep models that are much older, around 3 to 8 years spoke of a different story. 43% of car owners who owned an older Jeep model continued to experience a ton of problems, all in a period of just 12 months. Some of these problems include tire pressure sensors, faulty dashboard displays, and windscreen wipers. These problems are not quite serious; however, a number of drivers would have to go up to 4 days without their vehicles.
According to our extensive research, it was determined that Jeep is one of the least dependable vehicle brands in the market. Surveys were published where the Jeep was mentioned as one of the “Worst car brands.” In this list, the Jeep was positioned at number 8. Sources claimed that the feet of the Jeep Cherokee as well as the Jeep Compass were responsible for the unreliability of the car brand. These Jeep models were also placed in the list of “Worst SUV Vehicles.”
Even if there are a ton of problems that have been reported with new model Jeeps, a lot of these issues do not present themselves until the vehicle is older. Therefore, if you are thinking about buying a brand-new Jeep, then it is better if you take some time to look into all the lease options that you will be presented with. If you acquire a lease that will last between 1 to 4 years, as well as a full maintenance package, you are guaranteed of a cover, just in case something goes wrong.
Comparing the Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and the Wrangler.
| Model | Reliability Index | Cost of Repairs Per Year |
| Jeep KL Cherokee | 150 | $410 |
| Jeep WK2 Grand Cherokee | 190 | $543 |
| Jeep JK Wrangler | 309 | $608 |
The Reliability of the Jeep KL Cherokee
When you take some time to view separate Jeep models in the view still does not change especially when reliability is taken into consideration.
The Jeep Cherokee was first manufactured in 1974 and in 2019, this model gained 150 points on the Reliability Index list. Luckily, this vehicle doesn’t really have to spend much time off the road. When the car needs to be fixed, the average repair time is only under 3 hours. According to this report, the price of the repairs is not too much. The repair could cost an average of $410.
When it comes to determining the factors that would most likely affect the Jeep Cherokee, you will find that it is the electric-powered system that actually suffers the most. 21.43% of the problems that need to be fixed in this car was the electrical system. 16.67% of the respondents claimed that the suspension, the axle as well as the braking system were also some of the major problems that this Jeep experienced.
All of these factors play a major role when looking for your most ideal vehicle, and these factors are definitely taken considered when the reliability of a car is calculated. The 2015 Jeep Cherokee model has received over 2,000 complaints with most of the complaints been regarded as transmission issues. When it comes to the protection and security of this vehicle, the Jeep Cherokee was given 5 stars and it was discovered to have a provision that is quite ideal, necessary for the safety of passengers.
The Reliability of the Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee definitely sounds like an excellent ride. The word grand is even included in the name. The downside to this vehicle is that the model is not the most reliable car on the market.
In the latest Reliability Index review, the Jeep Grand Cherokee model was given 190 points. These points positioned the model after the Jeep Cherokee on the index. A lot of research was conducted to determine some of the issues that owners of the Grand Cherokee may experience. From the research, it was determined that the area that is most likely to give problems is the axle as well as the suspension. Over 18% of the respondents that were interviewed mentioned the axle and the suspension areas as one of the primary issues that they have experienced with their vehicle. Different problems with their vehicle engines were the second most regular issue. 18% of the respondents that were interviewed mentioned that these engine issues kept them driving back to the auto mechanic shop.
Statistical figures listed from the Reliability Index placed the standard cost of repairs for the Grand Cherokee model at $543. The approximated time given to work on these repairs is only two and a half hours. If you think of it, this is not such a long time when you consider the delicate issues that are being corrected in your car.
The year 2011 is said to be the worst time for the Grand Cherokee model. This is because there were over 700 complaints that were brought up about issues that owners were consistently dealing with. 200 of these complaints, were about problems that were experienced with the vehicle’s electrical system. The second most regular issue that car owners complained about was problems to do with the vehicle’s engine.
The Reliability of the Jeep Wrangler
A Jeep Wrangler is most likely the only model in the Jeep brand that can easily track down its origins back to the earliest Willy’s-Overland type that was manufactures and popularly used during the Second World War. However, the model was officially named a Jeep Wrangler in the year 1987.
Unfortunately for users and Jeep enthusiasts, this particular model is not the best especially when it comes to maintaining every passengers’ safety and dependability. In 2018, The Euro NCAP took the Jeep Wrangler on a test run and the vehicle was only given a 1 star for safety. Experts found out that the Jeep Wrangler had very substandard crash protection, and it also lacked in providing certain safety systems.
Euro NCAP actually introduced the general safety rating in the year 2009 and the Jeep Wrangler is actually the first vehicle in the Jeep brand to be given only one star for general safety. Different comments and reviews for the Jeep Vehicle prove that this car has actually been designed to provide a lot of comforts when you are driving off-road as well as on-road. This, however, does not enhance the vehicle’s ranking when it comes to dependability.
When it comes to determining the problems that the Wrangler experiences, the vehicle’s major problem is with the electrical systems. The worst year for Jeep Wrangler vehicle owners was in 2012. During this time, the brand received more than 1,000 complaints from drivers. A large percentage of these complaints were of the electrical systems. Other complaints varied from issues experienced with the vehicle’s airbags to problems faced with the Jeep’s air conditioner.
The Jeep Wrangler model is also the father of the well-known ‘Death Wobble’ experience. The worst year of this Jeep brand was in 2007 where the model received a ton of complaints because of the death wobble.
What is really fascinating is how amazing the Jeep Wrangler maintains its resale price. Even though there are hundreds of complaints about the reliability of this model, the Jeep Wrangler has always maintained its high demand. If you end up purchasing a Jeep Wrangler, and soon you begin to encounter reliability that is not so spectacular, you can still sell the vehicle and make almost the same amount of money that you spent when buying it.
What is a Jeep Death Wobble?
A Death Wobble is a term used to refer to the moment when the front axle of your Jeep begins to swing from side to side quite violently. This motion causes the car to vibrate or rather wobble too much. For a ton of drivers, the vehicle may become too difficult to maintain control.
There are a number of reasons why your vehicle may encounter the Death Wobble. Your Jeep may be aligned quite poorly. If you are experiencing a wild vibration in your car, you should take some time to check your vehicle’s alignment. You could also be having unbalanced tires. Failing to have balanced tires could actually cause your axle to be continuously tossed around. Another reason for the Death Wobble could be the fact that your steering stabilizer is loose and you may need to visit the mechanic to tighten this area. Your ball joints could have also experienced some wear and tear causing your jeep to vibrate violently when driving.
Many other vehicles in the market can experience the Death Wobble, however, it is mostly isolated to the Jeep brand. This is because Jeeps are manufactured with a coil-sprung design and a track bar setup. This design can throw the vehicle’s suspension out of balance.
Conclusion
The subject of Jeep reliability is very complex and can get heated very fast. A number of new model Jeep car owners have often complained about the initial reliability of the car, saying that it was not ideal. However, there are a number of car owners that have mentioned that the reliability improves over a period of time. The truth is a Jeep cannot be considered a reliable vehicle. In the early years, this brand was dependable, but that is not the case today.
The problematic infotainment car system, as well as the harsh death wobble experience, is proof that this vehicle is not as dependable as it once was. Many people today would still purchase a Jeep vehicle because the brand name is considered quite prestigious. If you are in the market searching for a Jeep, it is advisable that you conduct a lot of research on your car, before finally settling for the car that is best for you.
