Jeeps are crap syndrome

[mattb]

So I have had my Liberty for a year and a half now and it has had not one problem except perhaps an unquinched thirst, we trade our honda for a Grand Cherokee and all I hear is man you shouldn't have done that those jeeps are junk. I figure this all to be jealosy but it is still annoying. Any of you guys experience this or am I alone in an area of idoits? ](*,)

 

[Se7enLC]

The two things I heard when I first got interested in the jeep were:

- Don't those things roll over a lot?
- those things are junk

So I researched. I found that the liberty does have a reasonably high rollover rate. It's not half as bad as the ford explorer sport track, but it's not as good as a honda CR-V, subaru forester/outback, ford escape, etc. But looking at those other models, it's clear that it's because they are very carlike, and much lower than the jeep. You can tell from driving them that the ford escapes are cars that are tall, and the jeep is a truck that is small.

As for the "those are junk" that's a pretty common thought of all american cars. I thought the same way....But I've seen some jeeps still running after a pretty hefty number of miles, so I can't imagine it's all that bad. It's no honda for reliability, but I'd like to see a CRV do the kind of stuff a Jeep can do.

Once I showed people the reasons I got it and what it can do, they got off my case about it. I know they'll jump right back in with the "told ya so" if I roll it, though

 

[2003KJ]

I get that ALL the time. Especially from those I work with. They all drive Honda's and Toyota's and Nissan's.....ya know thats great. I'm glad you're happy. It's my money, I wanted a Jeep, I got my Jeep, and I'm happy too. And I haven't had one damn problem out of it yet. I drove all the cute-utes. The only thing good about the CRV was the picnic table they gave you....I guess you can pry that under the wheel in the snow to get some traction. The Escape felt cheasy....and considering I had just got out of a bad relationship with my previous car (Ford Contour) I pretty much ruled them and Mazda (since they own Mazda now, and have screwed that company over royaly). The X-Terra was next on my list, if I couldn't have the Jeep. It felt more stable than the rest, but not nearly as much as the Jeep. Plus the price was high, and the arrogant salesman I delt with who wanted to charge ME for reconditioning my contour, then turn around and charge the next guy who bought it to, AND the way they treated it when they test drove it (knocked it out of alignment going airborn on the bump entering in the parking lot) turned me off to them too.

I was sold on the Jeep. Friendly salesman, awesome dealership, and gave me top dollar for my trade in.....I got 4K off that contour...LOL.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

It's just ignorance. People are convinced that just because their Japanese car seems to be bulletproof, that all others are junk. Sad case, really.

SUVs roll over "a lot" because those same ignorant people drive them like they would a car. You just cannot do that. I've seen car rollovers too, so those are not exactly perfect either.

And, um, the "Jeeps are junk" thing dates back to the old AMC Jeep. (IMO) I honestly think that Chrysler has done a very good job, making them more reliable and consistent. You know what's under a Chrysler Jeep. You could have any axle, engine, driveshaft, transfer case or whatever under an AMC Jeep

Now, if I can just get my korean car driving mom to stop thinking that my A/C doesn't work, I'll be fine. And, why, with her, is it that everytime I'm under my hood, something is wrong?!?! Ugh.

 

[mattb]

Hey I had the Ford Contour experience too. Transmission died at 50k, valve knock--that kind of fun. Anyway, the jeep dealer we go to here is really great, no pressure, get to test drive without the salesman. The Honda we traded was a 2003 AccordEX-L it had been in the shop 3 or 4 times break rotors were gone at 20K 2 recalls and it was a rattle box. I had one rattle in the liberty where one of the wires in the ceiling would bump the headliner but other than that the sucker is solid and so is our GC. I know several people who have jeeps pushing 200K or over with little past troubles so that was part of my research too. Hopefully the 3.7 will be as solid as the 4.0.

 

[Se7enLC]

Not that I like fords, but the contour is just a bad car....it's too large a car with too small an engine (it's about the size of a taurus, but with an escort engine)....it's just asking for a short lifespan!

I had a ford escape as a rental car recently - it felt very much like a car, but with a better view. Not saying it's a bad vehicle, but it just doesn't feel as truck-like as the jeep does.

 

[gsbrockman]

I'm kinda partial to my junky little CRD. :^o
Greg

 

[-=JoN=-]

did get crap like that, and still do. when we first got her, relatives and friends a like were..."why a jeep...?" even now, my friend who seems to dislike anything chrysler tells me to sell it, and buy a *** car...i'm like..dude....broaden ur horizons....

it's annoying, very annoying...

 

[raceinfan]

JUST REMEMBER IT'S A JEEP THING THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND,PLUS IF ANY ONE GET'S ANY FLAK ON ANY JEEP ABOUT IT'S 4X4 CAPABILITIES LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE VERY FIRST 4X4 IN HISTORY THAT'S RIGHT A JEEP WORLD WAR 1 & 2 GOT THREW ANYTHING YOU THREW AT IT,MY GRANDFATHER DROVE ONE BEST THING THEY EVER BUILT

 

[fujitsubo]

I had a miata previously before and I loved it, it was small, cute and was 99.9 % reliable even when I gunned it to 6,000 rpm's. It was economical during the lower gas prices either so it didn't cost too much for gas. It rarely broke down too. I loved my miata and drove it with unconditional love for 8 years but it started to give me some trouble in the past 2 years so I had to make a quick decision. For the most part, imports do retain their resale value and is more plasticky but used parts are readily available. The junk yards are filled with lots of them. I tried to purchase an airfilter at the super grocery store but no jeep ones. A little disappointed but I'm sure it's not the end of the world. One of my best friend told me the same thing, "Jeeps are gonna give you trouble."
I was never a big fan of american made vehicles, resale value seems to depreciate a lot for some reason but I'm converted and convinced my Jeep will be one of the best vehicles I own and for that reason alone, I'm putting my bang for the buck here.

rob

 

[kegjeep]

i was in love with the jeep the first time i drove one. I drove escape, xterra, toyota...none of them compared to the feel the jeep had. I'm really glad I bought one since seeing what this thing can really do. I'm starting to see more and more jeep libertys around town now so chrysler has to be doing something right to be able to sell jeeps like that. All i've gotten from my jeep is nothing but compliments. I feel proud to drive a jeep and feel sorry for people that have to drive a cr-v, mazda, mitsubishi, or escape.

it's a Jeep thing, people just don't understand.

 

[Tokyojoe1965]

Okay...where did you get WWI? There was no such thing back then. It wasn't until a few years just before WWII that the Jeep was created.

 

[2003KJ]

Hey I had the Ford Contour experience too. Transmission died at 50k, valve knock--that kind of fun. Anyway, the jeep dealer we go to here is really great, no pressure, get to test drive without the salesman. The Honda we traded was a 2003 AccordEX-L it had been in the shop 3 or 4 times break rotors were gone at 20K 2 recalls and it was a rattle box. I had one rattle in the liberty where one of the wires in the ceiling would bump the headliner but other than that the sucker is solid and so is our GC. I know several people who have jeeps pushing 200K or over with little past troubles so that was part of my research too. Hopefully the 3.7 will be as solid as the 4.0.

Yeah, the automatics in those things sucked horribly. I had the 5-speed manual, 4 ******, with nothing else on it except A/C which when on, gave me a whole 5 horsepower to play with, and an aftermarket CD player I put in. Where in North Carolina do you live?

 

[jeepmed]

I'm on my 5th Jeep. I got all the same flak with the 1st rollover, and reliability. The first was a 90 Yj 2.5 liter. It did have a couple problems related to the FRENCH ******. Once fixed great vehicle. I bought a 91 XJ in 2000 and it ran great while I had it. The others I've had very few problems. The problems I've had are more related to the abuse I gave them. Offroading will evantually break any vehicle.
No one bothers me now they see its a JEEP and I'm a JEEP guy so they dont bother. Which is good because they dont unerstand. =D>

 

[mattb]

Yeah, the automatics in those things sucked horribly. I had the 5-speed manual, 4 ******, with nothing else on it except A/C which when on, gave me a whole 5 horsepower to play with, and an aftermarket CD player I put in. Where in North Carolina do you live?

I live in the big town of Laurinburg about 2 hrs. southeast of High Point. We had the v6 "Duratec" engine in ours which was fun but the rest was crap. At least today I can ride through all this rain without worring about flooding the engine. Now if those Wrangler ST's would just hurry up and wear out so I can stop hydroplaining. drive.gif

 

[grogiefrog]

Our KJ's are about as close as you can get to a go-anywhere vehicle. Rides great on a paved road and gravel, and can certainly take a lot more then most SUV's.

Guys that roll their vehicles are usually asking for it, unless it's caused by a defect in a tire for example.

 

[mhx]

funny.. this topic comes up

I just traded my 02 civic SI in for an 05 renny.. picked it up monday
22717 after rebates and dealing... + TTL out the door.

every keeps telling me NICE TRUCK.. This is my first SUV "TRUCK" but i it makes me mad when they call it a TRUCK

Its a Jeep! Cause JEEP > TRUCK to me!

So far i love it..I am going to the beach this weekend to play with 4x4.. The civic nearly got stuck and cant go very far on the beach.. Next thing I buy is a jet ski!

 

[grogiefrog]

I know what you mean MHX. The KJ can just go so many more places.

 

[2003KJ]

Yeah, the automatics in those things sucked horribly. I had the 5-speed manual, 4 ******, with nothing else on it except A/C which when on, gave me a whole 5 horsepower to play with, and an aftermarket CD player I put in. Where in North Carolina do you live?

I live in the big town of Laurinburg about 2 hrs. southeast of High Point. We had the v6 "Duratec" engine in ours which was fun but the rest was crap. At least today I can ride through all this rain without worring about flooding the engine. Now if those Wrangler ST's would just hurry up and wear out so I can stop hydroplaining. drive.gif

Man I hear ya. Did yours stall all the damn time too? How about running hot? Mine would run hot all the time. It could be 15 outside...and i'm sitting at a light and i look down and the damn needle is sky high...LOL. Or i'd be sitting there and the fan would kick in and suck every bit of energy that car had right out.

The Goodyear SR-A's are no better.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Good luck with that. My STs have 11k, and look like new. They haven't had the easiest life either... all of the rest of them I've seen look like new as well.