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Poor Jeep

4K views 44 replies 32 participants last post by  ChuckM 
#1 ·
When did Chrysler buy Jeep and turn it into a piece of junk?
 
#3 ·
Chrysler has owned Jeep since 1987 the first Chrysler era jeep was the TJ
 
#8 ·
I can kind of see where the OP is coming from. I've driven Jeeps from '98, '04 and '17, and while I don't consider the new Jeeps junk I sure prefer models built before '05.

The JKs have got a lot of really nice features that the older models don't, but I'd take a TJ over a JK any day. But then again, I'm usually looking for a fairly bare-bones, utilitarian vehicle. I like the more solid feel of the TJ, and really like the 5-speed stick with cable throttle better than the 6-speed stick with the DBW throttle controls.

Maybe LM3 is just another old-school Neanderthal like me :redface:
 
#13 ·
Oh, well I missed by a mile. Snort!
 
#15 ·
Why is the sky blue?

But to answer your question. Chrysler bought jeep in 1987 and I don't know that they turned into a piece of junk. Saying something is junk is all relative. Have you ever heard of a Jaguar, a Fiat or a Yugo? Some would say that those cars are junk. But then again, some would say that they are great cars.
 
#16 ·
Let's be honest here. Jeeps, especially the iconic CJ/YJ/TJ have never been a mindless hop-in-and-drive kind of vehicle like a toyota or honda econo car. They are utilitarian and temperamental, and as such require a bit more maintenance and repair than a corolla that just needs oil changes and maybe some brakes for the first 100K. They are crude, loud, rough, cramped, bad on gas, impractical, but they are capable off road and a hell of a lot of fun to drive, probably their only two redeeming qualities!
 
#23 ·
Let's be honest here. Jeeps are crude, loud, rough, cramped, bad on gas, impractical, but they are capable off road and a hell of a lot of fun to drive, probably their only two redeeming qualities!
Brings a tear to my eye...:awesome:
 
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#22 ·
Everything with a ball joint in the front of mine had to be replaced, but with 90k miles and oversized tires on it that isn't surprising. I get co-workers giving me crap about always having to fix things, but hey, these are old vehicles now (mine turned 11) and they need love and attention to keep going.

To quote my teacher, "Parts fail, man"
 
#24 ·
I get co-workers giving me crap about always having to fix things, but hey, these are old vehicles now (mine turned 11) and they need love and attention to keep going.
I get the same thing from my friends/co workers. It doesn't bother me much, I enjoy tinkering with my vehicles as long as it's in my driveway and not on the side of the road.
Anything mechanical wears out. At least our Jeeps are pretty basic & somewhat easy to wrench on compared to other vehicles.
You drop a wrench under the hood of a new diesel pickup, and it'll never hit the ground.
 
#25 ·
I owned two YJs. My first was an 87 built by AMC. The last one was an 89 that I bought in 2002 and kept for 12 years width just basic maintenance like oil changes, brakes, etc. it had about 220K miles when I sold it a couple years back. I now have a JK and joke that I am still trying to like it. Yes, I like the ride and some of the upgrades. I could do without the plastic dash, trim pieces, CAN bus, the soft top is a PITA to remove completely compared to the YJ. To me, a Jeep is a utilitarian vehicle. I prefer the no frills dash of the YJ. I loved th 258 engine. There was plenty of room under the hood for me to get under there and actually work on the engine. But t seems that the Jeep has evolved into the preferred vehicle of soccer moms and mall crawlers everywhere. It is still arguably the most versatile and best equipped for off-road use vehicle you can drive off an assembly line.

I am still trying to like my JK, but I suppose I will say that about the next iteration of the Wrangler, if and when I decide to "trade up."
 
#28 ·
.... But t seems that the Jeep has evolved into the preferred vehicle of soccer moms and mall crawlers everywhere. It is still arguably the most versatile and best equipped for off-road use vehicle you can drive off an assembly line. ...
Eventually our TJ's will turn to dust. & I hope right about the same time the soccer moms and mall crawler set move on to the next big thing..... and we'll be there to pick up JK's & JKU's at pennies on the dollar.
 
#29 ·
Honestly, all the things I panic about and fix are minor to every other car owner on the road. I see trucks and cars dog-tracking like crazy, whining belts, blue exhaust smoke, blown suspensions, knocking engines, etc.

Some ungodly force keeps these things on the road somehow. My jeep has NEVER had problems that bad, because I actually fix things when they break. I had death wobble for as long as it took my replacement steering linkage to arrive in the mail, and since I replaced everything under the front (ball joints, sway links, tie rods and panhard bar) mine drives like it's fresh from the dealer lot.

And guess what...all my factory parts lasted 20k over their recommended life expectancy. These vehicles are better built than people give them credit for.
 
#30 ·
These vehicles are better built than people give them credit for.
Other than some shoddy electronics these Jeeps are relatively good vehicles.
I think a lot of mechanical issues has to do with the owners lack of maintenance. (Just go over to Pine Hills and you'll see what I mean :whistling:.) We've all seen cars that are a few years old and are beat to $hit.

I am big on preventative maintenance and usually try to change out parts before they break. I get flak from friends about me throwing away money etc, but My theory is "it's easier to change parts in your driveway than on the shoulder of a highway"

My current Jeep is a good example of a previous owner who did nothing but change the oil for 91k miles. I've put around $2000 into it since the purchase and the majority of that is maintenance. Now the clutch is slipping...Hard to believe the clutch is gone at 96k but I'm guessing the PO was the issue.

A good example of my theory: I recently helped a friend change the original u-joints on his 279k mile Superduty. He was pissed that the rear drive shaft had to have a new slip joint welded on & cost him almost $300. He asked how my 335k mile Superduty still has the factory drive shaft? I told him that I pull the spit joint boot and regrease it every 60k miles (using the proper Ford Teflon grease) when I change the rear end fluid.
I could tell by the look oh his face that he's never changed the rear end fluid....
Pay a little now or a lot later!
 
#33 ·
As someone who works in the recently-used auto industry, you wouldn't believe the cars we get. We'll get some vehicles (primarily anything with a GM/Chevy badge) that have less than 20k on them and they are leaking oil, have transmission whine, timing chain rattles (especially 4cyl EcoTec engines), sludge in the engines...I'm sure a lot of these issues are user error, but some auto makers (*cough*) make some CHEEAAP vehicles. Chrysler has made some real turds too, but now that we are out of the Daimler days it is a less common issue.

And Wranglers are far and away some of the better built vehicles from that era. Even with their electrical flaws they outclass most from the early to mid 2000's
 
#35 ·
imo ever increasing regulation of safety equipment, crash test standards, driver stability, abs, emissions standards and standards relating to fuel economy have transformed the basic vehicle into a dispose and recycle item as a result of manufacturers meeting the requirements in the most cost effective way possible. Seems like after about 7 to 10 years a lot of electronics begin to fail, plastics get brittle...

Watched a cop in a SUV get clipped going code 3 through a stop light by a lady in a Audi, she just caught his front bumper. Ripped the whole front off his Ford Explorer and totaled the Audi from front to back on the drivers side. Everything due to safety standards seems to be made of tin foil, great for absorbing collision shock. Had a guy with no drivers license run into the front of my tj with his girl friends Honda, hit my front wheel...did nothing to my jeep, but destroyed his front bumper, fender and drivers door.

All new cars, not just Chrysler...
 
#40 ·
I have a 2004 TJ. I beat it up as best I can. It has 120,000 miles. I do all the maintenance. It is easy to own and operate. I have differential servicing to do this summer along with the transfer case.

I also own a 2011 Jeep Liberty. It has the V6 engine. It has 95000 miles. I just replaced the water pump...which cost all of $43. It was easy to install. I just serviced the front and rear diffs and the transfer case. Next is the transmission which is a 42rle like my TJ. This is the family vehicle and is driven way more than my TJ.

They are both good solid vehicles and they see tons of drive time but I stay up with their maintenance schedule...the key to making a vehicle last is holding to a maintenance schedule.

No junk at my house. Kind of a troll thread from the OP.
 
#41 ·
The goberment emissions and safety mandates have transformed all the utilitarian vehicles profoundly and from my perspective not for the better

But that is not a Chrysler issue that is a generation cupcake nanny state cradle to grave support/protection goberment issue that unfortunately too many Americans want and vote for

It will implode someday but that will not be pleasant either


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#43 ·
got a new 93 dodge 250 with the Cummins engine and 5 spd tranny. the windshield leaked from day one. after 2 years, 1 new windshield and many tubes of sealant, it was still leaking when I sold it to my buddy. It had many other issues, but none with the engine or tranny. I loved that old truck, and my buddy is still driving it. but it was the most awful new vehicle I have ever owned. every thing but the A/C and the drive train was crap. Chrysler was also known for their very good A/C's.
 
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