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Possible new Jeep owner worried about realibity

15K views 86 replies 44 participants last post by  BarryB 
#1 ·
In the next couple of weeks I plan on purchasing a brand new SUV. I have my heart set on a JGC but a little concerned after reading everything on here. The crossover I am getting rid of is a 2005 Chevy Equinox POS. I purchased it used with 34,000 and have replaced

shocks 3 times, had brake hoses issues,
blown head gaskets,
blown upper and lower manifold intake gaskets,
timing chain gasket cover,
3 left Front side wheel bearings, 1 on right side
Water pump, thermostat-2, ABS sensors too.

I hope the GJC doesn't have issues like this. I am actually torn on the simple issue of the back up camera. My dealer actually has the GJC that I want with the Quatra Track 2 system, but it has a sun roof. I'm afraid of leaks. I'm also a little leary of all the tech on this thing and worried with the Limited trim that I like it will have too much. I want the back up camera but concerned about all the extra stuff. Any suggestions or thoughts will be helpful.
 
#5 ·
While there is a tendency to check out owner forums in anticipation of a purchase, they are worth exactly what you're paying....nothing! Perhaps I'm not as picky as some posters here. I've had a Jeep product in my driveway for the past 28 years, most of them brand new and none of them lemons. I'm towing a 25' Airstream (6300 pounds) with my '13 Overland Summit without any issues. I'm a car guy with classics, sports cars and hot rods in the garages and quite frankly, the WK2 is the first new car I've really got excited about driving in a long time.

Either it works for you or it doesn't.
 
#20 ·
+1
I've owned Japanese, German, and American cars. All of them have been reliable because I take care of them.

Every forum I've been on has had at least one person that constantly bitches about this or that on the car and to them I always say, "just sell the damn thing and stop bitching".

No matter what you buy, someone is bound to get a lemon occasionally. Sell it and move on. Otherwise, just buy what you like and enjoy.
 
#6 ·
Well I do have an old Willis Jeep sitting in my back yard rusting but other than that I've never owned anything besides GM. My mechanic; who is a GM person advised me to get a Jeep some of sort since he doesn't believe GM quality is as good as it once was. After my experiences with my Equinox I believe it.

I've always wanted a GJC so I'm excited to finally be able to purchase one but also a little worried about all the electronic stuff on the 2014's but as long as there's no blown head gaskets and stuff I think I'll be okay.
 
#7 ·
the Jeep engines are pretty bullet proof and been around awhile. Theres a few bugs with the 8.4an uconnect...but nothing that updates wont fix as they figure them out.
 
#17 ·
Yeah, the 8.4 UConnect seems to have been released a tad before it was baked.
Still I haven't had anything more than annoyances from it.

The V6/V8 has a transmission flash TSB that you'd want to get [if not already installed] if you go with the V6. There've been reports of rough shifting that simply resetting the system won't fix.

The Hemi is a bit more expensive, and the 8 speed on the Hemi [and diesel] is the same as used on bigger BMW's and several other euro cars.

The diesel is a truck diesel comes from a joint venture with GM and Fiat, but is also used in US military trucks.

Sad about GM [and Ford]. The GMC Blazer was a pretty serviceable ute, like the Ford Exploder. Now, just a glorified mini van or station wagon.
 
#8 ·
My Overland has exceeded all of my expectations. :D :thumbsup:
 
#9 ·
We took delivery of our 2014 Overland two weeks ago. The fit and finish are as good as anything I have owned including some much more expensive European automobiles. So far ( still under a thousand miles) their have been zero issues. The 8 speed transmission is as smooth as silk, the electronics have performed flawlessly and the the power and smoothness of the 6 cylinder has my wife all smiles and confirmed to me that for our purposes it is the perfect engine.

We are happy that we sprang for the advanced technology package. Our previous car had a wicked blind spot. Although the GC seems much better in that respect we love the fact that the electronic system is watching out for us as well or as my prefers to put it " our Grand Cherokee is making sure we don't hurt it"

We are very happy with our decision to buy a Grand Cherokee
 
#10 ·
I was recently in the same boat as you - shopping for a new SUV. I drove almost everything in the same class as the limited. I almost didn't even drive the Jeep because I didn't want to consider a Chrysler product (for reliability fears). I'm sure glad I did though as it was my clear favorite. But I still had the nagging fear of their reliability. In the end I decided to get it and also got the maxcare warranty to alleviate by reliability concerns. I'm still under 600 miles but absolutely loving it.
 
#12 ·
Can't say a lot about the new stuff as I just bought the '14 a month ago however our "00 GC had 165,000 driving plus 130,000 towing and the only problems were a throttle sensor and a rear door that wouldn't open from the outside.

The wife totaled out the "00 so I found a '99 GC and bought that.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Its a tough spot, I know. I have a 2011 and have had electrical issues (17 warranty failures), and even with that experience I have a hard time choosing anything other than the Jeep because its such a nice vehicle for the price. We went out today, and even my wife who is more frustrated with our Jeep than I am was forced to conclude that the Grand Cherokee is a untouchable value in the segment. We will likely replace our 2011 with a 2014 despite our experience. I would have to pay $10k more to get something else as nice. We saw a VW Touareg she really liked...but it was $58,000. For that money I'd be in a Lexus GX.

As others have said, MOST Jeeps don't have these problems...but there clearly are some fairly significant electrical problems out there and when you yourself wind up with problems, its not fun. I would say get a good warranty...but it will probably be fine.
 
#18 ·
You can get 7 year, 5 year, or even lifetime, with oil life reminder oil changes using factory spec oil, rental car [day limit similar to the # of years] on them.
The prices on that warranty can be pretty competitive, and you might want to check about picking it up somewhere other than your buying dealer if they insist on trying to charge over 3K for the lifetime. They can make more money on that than they do on the vehicle if you are in a competitive market.
 
#15 ·
Owned a '93 Grand Cherokee (1st generation, 1st year) until I bought my 2011 (4th generation, 1st year). If I hadn't bought the 2011 I would still be driving my 1993! It had 170K miles when I sold it. My 2011 is almost 3 years old and not a single issue. I did purchase the lifetime warranty since these vehicles have so much mechanical and electronics.
 
#19 ·
Yeah, when I was looking at my old 95 ZJ, and had it checked by the local Jeep dealer the service manager suggested I pick up the best electronic gewgaw protection I could find. The drivetrain is pretty robust and not that expensive to repair, but if the auto controls go out, it can cost about as much as an engine block.

Never did blow anything big, but after a few trips under and into the dash, its nothing I would care to have to pay for repairs on.....

Traded for a '14 and that salesman is now driving the 95 ZJ with a dealer logo on the back window "until his kid gets old enough"
 
#16 ·
If you are worried, stay off of forums. Over 1/2 of the people come to a forum to report a problem. That doesn't mean that every Jeep has many issues.
 
#21 ·
This is my second Grand Cherokee with the Quadra Trac II system [2005 and now a 2009] and I love the Jeeps. This is my fourth Jeep and I won't look at anything else. My first Jeep was a Cherokee 1994, when I sold it, it had 220,000 miles with no problems. Next was a 1997 Grand Cherokee, when I sold it, it had close to 200,000 and was needing a new tranny. Next came my 2005, Hemi 5.7L with the Quadr Trac II, Trail Rated with a sunroof. Never leaked, but you had a 'trick' to making sure it sealed. As long as you did that, never had a leak. Sold that one with 155,000 miles and no mechanical issues. Now my 2009 is up to 84,000 and no problems. I am sure there are some lemons out there, but overall I think Jeep does a great job! Good luck with your purchase.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I must say though I don't think the jeeps are as good as they used to be. My 98 is bullet proof never had a single serious problem, ever. Other than regular maintenance the only fix I did was change the crankshaft and throtle position sensors at 170k miles and 15 years later because it would stall and surge every now and then. One guy even told me this is the most popular car in mexico because the things just don't die. Now with the 05 it gives me a transmission over temp a weird gurgling sound and the adjustable pedals don't work, the steering wheel used to click, and something is terribly wrong with the gas mileage I am getting (7 mpg. Yeah that's right). But I still love the thing and would only sell it to buy a wk1 srt. Never the less I still think jeep makes a fine product and will not give you nearly the kind of mechanical issues you would get from a chevy or a ford. Plus their cooler than those asian cars.:cool: You also have to remember the more features it has the more likely something or the other can break.
 
#27 ·
Mechanically the only issue I've had is the brakes needing to be replaced at 27k miles and being surprisingly corroded. The 27k miles and and of itself isn't completely unusual, but the level of corrosion was.

Everybody's issues seem to be electrical though, I agree.

I could live with issues at 200k miles. I can't live with whole control panels and door lock buttons etc not working at 25k miles
 
#26 ·
I have a '14 Overland, with about 4200mi as of today. Couple of glitches, but loving it.

Kept the '07 Limited, worth more to me than as a trade, and my daughter sees a pony-puller in dad's driveway. It still gets about 1/3 of the miles I drive..

I bought the lifetime maxcare on the '14, 'cuz there are a lot of fancy thingamabobs that might break. But for <$2200, not really a big expense.

Given what the other members of "the fleet" have been through with various marques over the past 5 years, I'm comfortable with my chrysler/jeep experience over the past decade.

YMMV, of course.

...tom
 
#29 ·
Just do it. My wife and I each have 2014 GC's (she got one in June and I drove it, then decided to trade my 2009 Overland for one as well) and they are pretty darned good. My only glitch is the Blind Spot Monitoring system... the module will be replaced by the dealer shop as soon as they receive it and call me. I am in no hurry either way.

The Pentastar V-6 appears to be bulletproof, as does the 5.7 Hemi; not a huge difference in fuel economy (unless you pull a four horse trailer ;) ), but I learned a long time ago to never, ever buy a vehicle solely based on fuel economy (or on "howmuchamonth?").
 
#30 ·
This is my forth GC and non of them had any mechanical issue. I never understood why there was such a misconception of Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge products. My srt4 was the most abused car and never let me down ,bought it new then sold it with 68k 389 hp stock internals 0 issues. Got my wife 2013 dart and no issues loves the car. We had a 2009 Honda Accord coupe and with 23k tranny died. My point is ever car company has lemons .
 
#31 ·
WK2 owners aren't having mechanical issues, the issues are electrical.
 
#33 ·
Had a 97 grand cherokee limited, have a 04 grand cherokee overland, and am awaiting delivery of a 14 grand cherokee overland ecodiesel. Have had a few small issues, but no more than any of my friends cars - and some of them own high end bmw, lexus, and mercedes. Overall, the grand cherokee is a very reliable vehicle.
 
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