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2012 Jeep Wrangler test drive issue

5K views 27 replies 20 participants last post by  kjeeper10 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

I'm a long time lurker, finally decided to sign up and post my experience on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler.

I test drove both a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (3.8) and a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (3.6)

I must say I love the new interiors, very nice, rugged yet styled nicely. The plastics feel much nicer than the 2010's and older. After driving both Wranglers, I must say the only difference I found was in the motor. But there's enough threads and posts on the motor and how much more of an improvement it is So I will keep this to just the issues I noticed.

2011 model that I drove was great. Nothing wrong. When I drove the 2012, I noticed you had to slam the doors really hard to get them to close properly or a message would pop up on the info display saying "door"

Also the turn signal on the 2012 had the tap feature when you tap to turn left or right it would make your blinkers blink 3 times. Great feature, many cars I driven has this, but the mechanism sucks. It would stick and not feel smooth.

Anyone have any of these issues? Im thinking of a Jeep but dont want a lemon (we dont have lemon laws here in Canada)
 
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#3 ·
the "tap" feature on mine does not stick at all. my doors do require more effort to close with the soft top than with the hard top, but the door gaskets seem to be getting a little softer and therefore easier to close each time...not that it was ever difficult to close. Having the door surrounds on requires the gaskets to compress more than with the hardtop and no surrounds on, so i am guessing you tested a soft top at the dealer?
 
#12 ·
X2...I did notice that with the hard top on you do have to shut the doors with more effort, but with the soft top on they close easier. Maybe the gaskets will compress over time.

Other then that with the Jeep in "Drive" and a drink in the forward cupholder you'll sometimes hit the shifter handle when removing your drink and also if you're the type of person that likes to place your hand on the shifter when driving, be careful, you'll upshift or downshift if you lean your hand left/right. Other then that, the 2012 is awesome! :)
 
#7 ·
Is that why my blinker seems to stick? :hide: how does the tap feature work?

And ya-my doors are the same way :)

Now that I got you guys here, have a stupid question :redface:

I found two plastic clips/handles in where the jack is stored, my guess is for the freedom panels-am I right?
 
#8 ·
:D heh Heh, well the "tap" feature is, instead of pushing down/up untill the turn signal lever "clicks"---you just tap down for left/tap up for right and it automatically "beeps" three times--KEWL--




Unless the handles have 4" of threaded shaft onem-I don't know what they would be--

:dance::rofl: JIMBO
 
#9 ·
JIMBOX said:
:D heh Heh, well the "tap" feature is, instead of pushing down/up untill the turn signal lever "clicks"---you just tap down for left/tap up for right and it automatically "beeps" three times--KEWL--

Unless the handles have 4" of threaded shaft onem-I don't know what they would be--

:dance::rofl: JIMBO
Sweet.

Added::: not the screw ins that secure through the sound-bar.

Freedom panels did not come with clip on handles?

Don't see anything in my manual :(

Somebody must knowwhat these things are :thumb:
 
#13 ·
I really don't think that is a difference between a 12 and an 11. You just got "lucky" that you didn't notice it in the 11. The blinker thing used to bother me in my 10...but to be honest I don't even notice it any more. Either I have just grown accustom to it, or it has loosened up a little. Still have to slam the doors :). Once you take them off that problem goes away :dance:
 
#16 ·
Exactly! That's what I've found. The rubber door gaskets are fresh but not that stiff. If a window or another door is open it closes just fine. But, if you can't let the air pressure out, it will require a bit more effort. Perhaps that's why the soft top doors close easier - the top expands a bit when the air hits it. You don't have to slam the doors or anything. You just have to follow through and keep your hand on the handle until it's closed rather than let go when the door is still open a foot or so.
 
#17 ·
Thank god I am not the only person with this door issue. I thought I was just being a weak girl. Good to know that I'm not a weak girl (at least when it comes to my Wrnagler doors). While it might be a pain in the booty to close the doors harder, it is nice to know that the hardtop is nicely sealed and that it is not drafty (thisis great since I live in WI and I will be cranking the heat 6 months out of the year).
 
#19 ·
I had to slam my doors on my yj and both my tj's too. Pretty sure that's just a jeep thing.
 
#22 ·
My problem with the new '12 I picked up today is the power... it's got 150 miles on it, 6-speed, 3.73 gears, and it's a total dog. It's worse than the 3.8 I just traded. Is this engine going to really wake up after it gets some mileage on it or is that just a myth?? I hope it is just waiting to wake up....
 
#24 ·
WXman said:
My problem with the new '12 I picked up today is the power... it's got 150 miles on it, 6-speed, 3.73 gears, and it's a total dog. It's worse than the 3.8 I just traded. Is this engine going to really wake up after it gets some mileage on it or is that just a myth?? I hope it is just waiting to wake up....
What did you trade in ?
 
#27 ·
I traded an '11 with auto. trans and 4.88 gears. It was still slow as honey on a winter day, but at least it would hold overdrive with the 4.88s. This '12 hasn't impressed me. I got on the interstate and I was like "Penta-what?" :rolleyes: I'm really hoping that the computer is just "learning" like everyone says and that pretty soon this thing is going to wake up. Right now it feels like 185HP, not 285.

This one is a soft top and the doors close EASY. My '11 as I mentioned was hard to close...the doors had too much air pressure against them with the hard top and windows up. Don't have to slam these at all.
 
#26 ·
011 model that I drove was great. Nothing wrong. When I drove the 2012, I noticed you had to slam the doors really hard to get them to close properly or a message would pop up on the info display saying "door"

Also the turn signal on the 2012 had the tap feature when you tap to turn left or right it would make your blinkers blink 3 times. Great feature, many cars I driven has this, but the mechanism sucks. It would stick and not feel smooth.
None of my cars has that 3 blinks features, might be I don't like luxury car that's why.
I still get annoyed by that feature after a month. 3 blinks are not enough for me to make left and right turn especially when I have to wait, and I hate people flashing the turn signal only the moment before they turn into my lane, so I'm not going to do the same thing to others by merely 3 blinks. So, that feature is kinda useless to me and now I have to push harder till it clicks, so the singal will stay.

The door is hard to close, getting use to it, buti t's annoying I have to tell my passengers to close the door harder and harder again and again :banghead:
 
#28 ·
Curious on what the 3.8/4.88 is compared to your 3.6/3.73 now is?
Just maybe you came out ahead with the 4.88's in the 11?

Both the 3.8/3.6 lack torque that's no secret. Add bigger meets and gearing is a must. Goes to show you how important gearing is and why somebody might be better of staying with their 10-11 and just regearing the axles instead of buying new.
 
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