2020 Jeep Needs a New Engine - Coolant Leak

[GAJeep2025]

Our 2020 Jeep Wrangler needs a new engine as it has been mysteriously leaking coolant. An engine breakdown had to be done to determine the cause, although we still don’t really know the issue. We already had to replace the transmission. This is our first Jeep, and we are surprised that so much has gone wrong already. We have an extended warranty, and the engine has been ordered but is on back order. We haven’t had the car in over four weeks, and we were told by Jeep Cares that because the Jeep is outside the 60,000 mile factory warranty, we are not eligible for rental car reimbursement. We have already paid over $1,500 in car rental fees for a small, cheap compact car. We are a family of 4! We cannot get an update on how long it will take it get the engine to the dealership or how long it will take to get the engine installed once it gets there. We were told it could be another two months even! We are paying a car loan for a car we can’t drive plus car insurance. The dealership said this is to be expected as our car has 90,000 miles on it. However, it is only five years old! Is that the life span of a Jeep? Would we better off buying a new car? We are getting no help or guidance from Jeep Cares or the service department of the dealership. There is no loaner dealer program or courtesy car available. We feel completely abandoned as customers. It has been very disappointing.

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[SadRobot]

If you search the forums you'll find this is common. Customer service is pretty much non-existent and parts are constantly on backorder.

As for the missing coolant you've most likely blown a head gasket. The engine on my 2019 just crapped out on me a few weeks ago at 108,000 miles. The good news for you is that it is still under warranty and without that you would be looking at most likely over 10k in repairs.

 

[alphawolff]

absolute insanity that an extended warranty agreed to replace the engine vs just replacing the heads.

 

[SadRobot]

absolute insanity that an extended warranty agreed to replace the engine vs just replacing the heads.

In your opinion do you think it's because they don't want them to come back with another problem? Figuring if they just replace the heads then this Jeep will just be back in the shop in a few months for cams?

When my Jeep was at the dealer to bleed the clutch they could not figure out how to do it. When I went over to talk to them in person they said the next step would just replace everything (clutch, both cylinders + line) because they couldn't figure out how to solve the one thing that was wrong.

 

[Ratbert]

Which engine?

 

[alphawolff]

In your opinion do you think it's because they don't want them to come back with another problem? Figuring if they just replace the heads then this Jeep will just be back in the shop in a few months for cams?

When my Jeep was at the dealer to bleed the clutch they could not figure out how to do it. When I went over to talk to them in person they said the next step would just replace everything (clutch, both cylinders + line) because they couldn't figure out how to solve the one thing that was wrong.

No, if they're recommending an engine it is purely due to incompetence. If they're recommending it you probably don't want them doing the heads anyway due to exact same reasoning of that clutch experience you described.

At my shop there's only three technicians capable of in-depth diagnostic work. We've got about 20 guys who really aren't able to diagnose much at all, but are more than confident in replacing parts. I quite literally spend ~30% of my daily time helping those guys out with (sometimes very basic) diagnostic work. Good techs are *really* hard to find these days. Some shops are lucky if they have even one knowledgeable guy on staff. Unfortunately if one guy doesn't know what he's doing, depending on the shop environment, they might just keep throwing parts at it instead of asking for help. Luckily my shop is pretty friendly and we all help each other out.

 

[GAJeep2025]

If you search the forums you'll find this is common. Customer service is pretty much non-existent and parts are constantly on backorder.

As for the missing coolant you've most likely blown a head gasket. The engine on my 2019 just crapped out on me a few weeks ago at 108,000 miles. The good news for you is that it is still under warranty and without that you would be looking at most likely over 10k in repairs.

You’re right that is good news. However, I fear we will spend thousands waiting on the car to be repaired in rental fees while also paying our car note, etc. I am sorry that happened to your 2019 Jeep!

 

[SadRobot]

You’re right that is good news. However, I fear we will spend thousands waiting on the car to be repaired in rental fees while also paying our car note, etc. I am sorry that happened to your 2019 Jeep!

Yeah that part really sucks. I'm very fortunate right now in that a friend is lending me a car to use for a few weeks while I replace my engine.

I guess it depends how much you want this Jeep and if they will buy it back from you as a trade-in.

 

[SadRobot]

No, if they're recommending an engine it is purely due to incompetence. If they're recommending it you probably don't want them doing the heads anyway due to exact same reasoning of that clutch experience you described.

At my shop there's only three technicians capable of in-depth diagnostic work. We've got about 20 guys who really aren't able to diagnose much at all, but are more than confident in replacing parts. I quite literally spend ~30% of my daily time helping those guys out with (sometimes very basic) diagnostic work. Good techs are *really* hard to find these days. Some shops are lucky if they have even one knowledgeable guy on staff. Unfortunately if one guy doesn't know what he's doing, depending on the shop environment, they might just keep throwing parts at it instead of asking for help. Luckily my shop is pretty friendly and we all help each other out.

The dealer I went to had 1 guy that could work on transmissions. He was the so called expert. They had the Jeep 3 weeks while he went on vacation and since no one else knew how to deal with a transmission my Jeep just sat there. Then he spent a week trying to bleed the hydraulics, failed and gave up and I had to tow it back home where I bled it in my garage by myself.

 

[GAJeep2025]

Which engine?

2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD (4 Cylinders N 2.0L DI Turbo DOHC 122 CID)

 

[GAJeep2025]

It has now been TWO MONTHS since our jeep has been at the dealership waiting on a new engine. We have a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD (4 Cylinders N 2.0L DI Turbo DOHC 122 CID). We replaced the transmission a year ago. I don’t understand how a 2020 vehicle needs a new engine and a new transmission already. Also, now, there is an issue with getting / finding a new engine? We are paying for a car that we don’t have as well as car insurance plus rental car fees. According to my research, an engine should last 150k - 200k miles, and it should take on average 1-2 weeks for an engine replacement. There seems to be no end in sight for us!! The estimated engine date was July 14th which I fear is being pushed back again. Please help @JeepCares. Do better! We are a family of 4 and need this vehicle.

 

[JeepCares]

It has now been TWO MONTHS since our jeep has been at the dealership waiting on a new engine. We have a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD (4 Cylinders N 2.0L DI Turbo DOHC 122 CID). We replaced the transmission a year ago. I don’t understand how a 2020 vehicle needs a new engine and a new transmission already. Also, now, there is an issue with getting / finding a new engine? We are paying for a car that we don’t have as well as car insurance plus rental car fees. According to my research, an engine should last 150k - 200k miles, and it should take on average 1-2 weeks for an engine replacement. There seems to be no end in sight for us!! The estimated engine date was July 14th which I fear is being pushed back again. Please help @JeepCares. Do better! We are a family of 4 and need this vehicle.

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