Pull the trigger on a JL Wrangler or avoid them?

[DavidArmen]

David, I'd normally agree with you, but I suspect that the OP got all of the negative feedback right here on this forum. Some of the folks on here would find reliability issues with a Pet Rock.

Absolutely! I always argue that by visiting a forum for any vehicle, the vast majority of posts will be issues, which is the main reason people initially search for and post in these forums. My statement was based on the fact that most Jeep owners still love the shit out of our Jeeps regardless and we usually always recommend it to others as long as they understand what they’re getting into with an off-road designed SFA vehicle.
Most people don’t go “hey I’ve had zero problems with my vehicle, why don’t I visit the forum and make a post telling everyone how great and reliable my vehicle is.”

For example, if people based reliability statistics based solely on forum posts, every vehicle would be considered extremely extremely unreliable. But we all know that isn’t the case in the real world. A vast majority of owners don’t even know forums exist for their vehicle. A vast majority of the remaining people will only ever post on a forum if their vehicle is having a problem. Jeep is unique in that it has a massive die-hard enthusiast following.

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[aldo98229]

Not just Consumer Reports. It's the reports on this and other forums that scare me.

Watched the latest video on Matt's Off-Road Recovery YouTube Channel yesterday. He had to retrieve a beautiful new Rubicon out of an awful hole in Sand Hollow State Park. Owner tells Matt "It just shut itself down and refuses to start".

So I'm sticking with my manual everything, minimal electronics TJ for right now. Area where I live I'm regularly 100 miles from pavement, much less the nearest town. Dependability is paramount. A lot of good an extended warranty does me when I have to figure out how to get my brand new Jeep out of the back country.

You don’t sound like the Jeep mindset.

I suggest get a Toyota. They are boring as hell but last forever.

 

[deserteagle56]

You don’t sound like the Jeep mindset.

I suggest get a Toyota. They are boring as hell but last forever.

I've had a Jeep "mindset" for more years than you have been alive, I daresay. Doesn't mean I can't bitch about current Jeep management whose quality control sucks so bad that 20 year old Jeeps are more dependable than what they are making now.

 

[aldo98229]

I've had a Jeep "mindset" for more years than you have been alive, I daresay. Doesn't mean I can't bitch about current Jeep management whose quality control sucks so bad that 20 year old Jeeps are more dependable than what they are making now.

Jeeps were never known for reliability; they were known for simplicity, ruggedness and durability.

Simplicity is out the window these days not just for Jeep, but for every automaker. Complexity is the new normal.

With regards to ruggedness and durability, Jeep still got it: you just do NOT hear Jeep owners complaining about breaking axles, suspensions, transfer cases engines or transmissions.

By contrast, look at those poor Bronco owners increasingly finding that the suspension, steering, etc., are not up to the task; they are now even experiencing catastrophic engine failures.

 

[deserteagle56]

Jeeps were never known for reliability; they were known for simplicity, ruggedness and durability.

Simplicity is out the window these days not just for Jeep, but for every automaker. Complexity is the new normal.

With regards to ruggedness and durability, Jeep still got it: you just do NOT hear Jeep owners complaining about breaking axles, suspensions, transfer cases engines or transmissions.

By contrast, look at those poor Bronco owners increasingly finding that the suspension, steering, etc., are not up to the task; they are now even experiencing catastrophic engine failures.

I agree with all the above except the reliability part. At least the Jeeps I've owned have NEVER quit on the trail; indeed none has needed anything but routine maintenance.

 

[jeproctor]

Also 52 and just picked up a JLR last week. Have a daily commute of 65 highway miles and it has been nothing but fun so far. The ride is rougher than my Subaru Outback but not as bad as several of the 3/4 ton trucks that I have had over the years. The last Jeep that I owned was a 1981 CJ5 and simply put the 2022 JLR still drives like a Jeep. I had wanted the 3.6 motor as it has a history of running for many miles. I ended up with the 2.0 turbo and purchased a 150K mile warranty for a little more that the 3.6 motor upgrade. Now I have full warranty for the next 150K miles which should equate to the next five to six years.

 

[gregus73]

My recommendation is to test both the 2 and 4 door models as well as the hard and soft top.

In my early 20’s I loved the 2 door with soft top.
In my 40s have had the 2 door and 4 door. I find the 4 door works better for me on freeway driving.

But test drive them all and find the one that works best for you. I also like the new Broncos, but I am thinking that the Wrangler will hold up better long term.

 

[COBill]

So I'm sticking with my manual everything, minimal electronics TJ for right now. Area where I live I'm regularly 100 miles from pavement, much less the nearest town. Dependability is paramount. A lot of good an extended warranty does me when I have to figure out how to get my brand new Jeep out of the back country.

GIven how many times the electronics on my TJ were an issue, that's not entirely comforting.

The most common were:

1) Horn stops working. I had my clockspring replaced four times in three years.

2) Entire instrument panel goes blank and gauges drop to zero. They would pull it off and apply dielectric grease to the connector and it would be fine… until the next time it did it.

 

[ViperJon]

My three year base warranty is up this month and it has never been to the dealer not one time. I change my own oil and keep it on a battery tender. Not a single glitch, hiccup or issue whatsoever. The infotainment system has been flawless. Couldn't be happier with it and can't wait to pop the top in another month or so (northeast).

 

[ViperJon]

Watched the latest video on Matt's Off-Road Recovery YouTube Channel yesterday. He had to retrieve a beautiful new Rubicon out of an awful hole in Sand Hollow State Park. Owner tells Matt "It just shut itself down and refuses to start".

So I'm sticking with my manual everything, minimal electronics TJ for right now. Area where I live I'm regularly 100 miles from pavement, much less the nearest town. Dependability is paramount. A lot of good an extended warranty does me when I have to figure out how to get my brand new Jeep out of the back country.

They make what.....20K+ Wranglers a month? No offense but if a YouTube video of some random guy breaking down somewhere and that is the deciding factor of buying a new Wrangler you were looking for a reason NOT to buy one. There are a thousand videos of people off-roading happily and successfully in JL's. Do they have equal weight?

 

[dsgrey]

Dang, some of y'all be children since I turn 59 in a few days. I've bought over 2 dozen vehicles in my lifetime for me, spouse, kids. This is one of the few I can still say brings me smiles when I drive it after owning for 3 years. The only other vehicle that brought me long term smiles was a Miata and I'm way too old to look graceful crawling out of those now.

3 years and first shop visit was this week to have the steering gear upgraded before the warranty runs out in April. I've owned other new vehicles that have been in the shop before 3 years including a 2022 Honda CRV.

My most trouble-free vehicle was a base model 2008 Ford Focus for $12k that was my commuter car, then handed off to my daughter as a commuter when she was in college, she's now 30yo and refuses to replace with over 200k miles. Nothing but tires and brakes replaced. A fluke.

 

[aldo98229]

My factory warranty is up in 9 months. Over this time, the Jeep had the steering damper replaced under recall, the steering box replaced under the TSB; I replaced both batteries last summer. Over the past couple days, the system has been rebooting itself once after startup.

Despite these, I’d say the Jeep has been reliable overall.

Before this Jeep I owned a Toyota Tacoma which, although it was technically “reliable,” the 6-speed automatic transmission and 3.5 V6 engine were terrible to drive: the transmission rushed to upshift and then refused to downshift; the engine felt weak; the drivetrain shuddered; the seats were uncomfortable, etc.

If I had to pick between the two, I’ll take the Jeep over the Tacoma any day of the week.

 

[deserteagle56]

GIven how many times the electronics on my TJ were an issue, that's not entirely comforting.

The most common were:

1) Horn stops working. I had my clockspring replaced four times in three years.

2) Entire instrument panel goes blank and gauges drop to zero. They would pull it off and apply dielectric grease to the connector and it would be fine… until the next time it did it.

Neither of my TJs had any electrical issues at all (still driving the 2006).

The issues you are talking about at least won't stop you from getting back home. My point is, the electronics on these newest models, from what I read on these forums and elsewhere, can and do shut the Jeep down, and the problem cannot be fixed on the trail. The Jeep HAS to be towed to someone with the ability to diagnose and fix whatever glitch the computer detected. How stupid is that on a vehicle designed to be used in the outback? Surely these engineers could design in something like a limp-back mode to allow the vehicle to make its way back to civilization!

I'm not just picking on the Wrangler here. I took a thorough look at the new Bronco and said no way. It is ALL electric - not even a transfer case handle to yank to put it in 4wd. Someone already posted some photos of his Bronco's dash with the message "4x4 temporarily disabled"; he was stuck in a bad spot and had to have two Wranglers tow him out. The new Bronco is just a mall crawler; I predict major reliability problems with all those electronics.

 

[RubyRubi]

It’s just like Yelp reviews dude. 99% of people who post are those with issues and who are disgruntled. The millions and millions of other owners never say a word because they’re happy as a clam. Also, look and see how many people with problems have modified their Jeeps outside factory specs. I always love when someone complains about their Jeep yet they have an insane lift, massive tires and have problems with their silly computer reprogrammer thing. Lol. Buy your Jeep. You’ll love it.

 

[sourdough]

My JL is the best all around on/off road vehicle I have owned. Even having owned 2 door Jeeps, Toyota's, Fords, Dodges and Chevy's which I enjoyed for what they were and how I used them. I purchased and mod'd my JLR (https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/showcase/biscuit.1163/) not as a daily driver but as a off-roader with comfort. It has been that and 100% reliable.

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