School Me on Jeep Wrangler

[dishdude]

The frequency of repair listed on Consumer Reports are from annual surveys of Consumer Reports members. Not Consumer Reports testers analyzing the vehicles. So a much larger audience than BITOG members.

And being bottom of the barrel for frequency of repairs does not mean every Jeep will have a problem rather it only means you will be a higher chance of having a problem than someone who bought a vehicle with a low frequency of repair like a Toyota.

And how many Consumer Reports members drive Jeep Wranglers?

 

[IndyFan]

You need to understand the difference between Consumer Reports testers evaluating a vehicle and the frequency of repair information from Consumer Reports member surveys. Very different sources of information.

We had a subscription. And there was bias in that data because owners of some makes dismiss problems while others nitpick.

Again, their data never matched my experience and I've heard many say they felt that way too.

Besides, they got busted massively for bogus rollover tests. I don't trust them at all.

 

[Donald]

We had a subscription. And there was bias in that data because owners of some makes dismiss problems while others nitpick.

Again, their data never matched my experience and I've heard many say they felt that way too.

Besides, they got busted massively for bogus rollover tests. I don't trust them at all.

As I said before, evaluating vehicles by CU staff is a different set of data than data from CU member surveys.

While there are certainly people who will overlook vehicle problems and others who will nitpick, I doubt for example Jeep owners nitpick and Toyota owners overlook problems.

 

[jadmt]

As I said before, evaluating vehicles by CU staff is a different set of data than data from CU member surveys.

While there are certainly people who will overlook vehicle problems and others who will nitpick, I doubt for example Jeep owners nitpick and Toyota owners overlook problems.

I have owned 5 wranglers all bought new and have never received a survey. From any one. No jd powers no cu nada. Who is getting surveyed? Since 2016 I have bought a new Subaru. Two new Hondas, 3 new jeeps, a new Mazda and new ram 2500. Not one survey request.

 

[IndyFan]

As I said before, evaluating vehicles by CU staff is a different set of data than data from CU member surveys.

While there are certainly people who will overlook vehicle problems and others who will nitpick, I doubt for example Jeep owners nitpick and Toyota owners overlook problems.

I hear that all the time. Toyota owners DO overlook problems. I go wheeling with Toyota owners all the time. They don´t like to admit problems or quality issues, even when you are looking right at it standing next to them. They like to believe they made a smarter purchase than anyone else. They are a unique bunch. Nice guys typically. But there is definitely an interesting culture there. And a lot of them who have never and never would own a Jeep just hate them. Literal hate for Jeeps. Jeep owners never hide the things they don´t like or problems. They talk all the time about them. It´s a different culture. Very different. Almost a source of pride to share how they fixed it or don´t give a crap about it.

People are weird about brands and their purchases. So that data is not worth the paper on which it was printed, to me.

Bottom line is that I´ve always felt CS has a bias. You can trust media if you want, though. No skin off my buns.

Take a look at what they did to Isuzu. That was a cute little fraud they pulled.

And maybe I mentioned this before. Their assessments NEVER have lined up with my experiences with specific models of vehicles.

 

[MCompact]

I hear that all the time. Toyota owners DO overlook problems. I go wheeling with Toyota owners all the time. They don´t like to admit problems or quality issues, even when you are looking right at it standing next to them. They like to believe they made a smarter purchase than anyone else. They are a unique bunch. Nice guys typically. But there is definitely an interesting culture there. And a lot of them who have never and never would own a Jeep just hate them. Literal hate for Jeeps. Jeep owners never hide the things they don´t like or problems. They talk all the time about them. It´s a different culture. Very different. Almost a source of pride to share how they fixed it or don´t give a crap about it.

People are weird about brands and their purchases. So that data is not worth the paper on which it was printed, to me.

Bottom line is that I´ve always felt CS has a bias. You can trust media if you want, though. No skin off my buns.

Take a look at what they did to Isuzu. That was a cute little fraud they pulled.

And maybe I mentioned this before. Their assessments NEVER have lined up with my experiences with specific models of vehicles.

We bought a used Mini several years ago just for fun and after I bought it I checked out CR’s online reliability information. I saw that the HVAC system was supposedly unreliable so I read some of the owner comments. One person stated that the heater didn’t work well so he took it to a dealer and was told “They are all like that.” In that case the defective item resided between the service writer’s ears.
And of course our Mini's HVAC never had an issue over the six years we owned it.

 

[Donald]

I hear that all the time. Toyota owners DO overlook problems. I go wheeling with Toyota owners all the time. They don´t like to admit problems or quality issues, even when you are looking right at it standing next to them. They like to believe they made a smarter purchase than anyone else. They are a unique bunch. Nice guys typically. But there is definitely an interesting culture there. And a lot of them who have never and never would own a Jeep just hate them. Literal hate for Jeeps. Jeep owners never hide the things they don´t like or problems. They talk all the time about them. It´s a different culture. Very different. Almost a source of pride to share how they fixed it or don´t give a crap about it.

People are weird about brands and their purchases. So that data is not worth the paper on which it was printed, to me.

Bottom line is that I´ve always felt CS has a bias. You can trust media if you want, though. No skin off my buns.

Take a look at what they did to Isuzu. That was a cute little fraud they pulled.

And maybe I mentioned this before. Their assessments NEVER have lined up with my experiences with specific models of vehicles.

I don't think you know enough people nor is BIOTG a big big enough sample size to say the some vehicle make owners overlook things while others not pick.

I do think general human nature is for people to complain less about things they like or love be it car or dog, maybe wife.

I liked my 2001 Jeep GC a decade ago that needed a new engine because of chunks of piston skirt broke off and jammed the crankshaft. I complained about it but still liked the vehicle.

 

[dishdude]

I don't think you know enough people nor is BIOTG a big big enough sample size to say the some vehicle make owners overlook things while others not pick.

We probably have a larger sample size in this thread than Consumer Reports has.

 

[Nukeman7]

I have owned 5 wranglers all bought new and have never received a survey. From any one. No jd powers no cu nada. Who is getting surveyed? Since 2016 I have bought a new Subaru. Two new Hondas, 3 new jeeps, a new Mazda and new ram 2500. Not one survey request.

I believe you must enroll in many of those survey organizations or have a paid subscription to Consumer Reports to be solicited in a survey. I was a CU subscriber for over a decade before they went digital and was mailed a survey form every February like clockwork.

 

[D60]

All of my Wranglers and Gladiator have been VERY reliable. And all of them have taken me to places I never dreamed I would see. They´ve created so many memories for my kids that they will never forget. You cannot put a price on these things. This is a tiny glimpse of the joy my family and friends have experienced from these incredible machines.

Truck, sports car (a little bit), convertible, safari vehicle, snow beast, mountain climber, tow vehicle, and commuter, all rolled up into one machine. Priceless. The next to last picture is of my very first Jeep. The one that opened the door. I had it for 10 years and took trails and obstacles that left me shocked and laughing out loud. It was the first, and I have beaten myself up every day since I sold it. I have no idea what I was thinking. The 2008 JK ended a 5 year dry spell and re-opened the door. I kept it 17 years and 196,000 joyous miles. I just could not justify three Jeeps when I picked up the Gladiator, which is the most practical of all of them. I have a lifetime warranty on the 2018, so it will be kept a LONG time.

I´m 57 years old. I will probably find a low mile Gladiator or Wrangler with a 3.6 when I retire in 8 years and I plan for it to carry me to my retirement adventures, along with a Wrangler for my wife, when that time comes, God willing. No DI. No turbo. Long lasting.
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To be fair you could have done all of that in any moderately built 4wd vehicle. Wranglers are fun and require the least mechanical aptitude to modify, but it's easy to fall into this line of thinking that they're the only vehicle for 'wheeling, which simply isn't true.

Any vehicle with a mild lift, aggressive tires, low range and skilled driver can have a lot of fun. I started in CO and Moab in a fullsize Bronco with front 60 SAS, 5.13, York OBA etc

 

[jadmt]

I believe you must enroll in many of those survey organizations or have a paid subscription to Consumer Reports to be solicited in a survey. I was a CU subscriber for over a decade before they went digital and was mailed a survey form every February like clockwork.

doesn't seem like an accurate way to get the best data. how do do they really know if you are a vehicle owner or not?

 

[MCompact]

To be fair you could have done all of that in any moderately built 4wd vehicle. Wranglers are fun and require the least mechanical aptitude to modify, but it's easy to fall into this line of thinking that they're the only vehicle for 'wheeling, which simply isn't true.

Any vehicle with a mild lift, aggressive tires, low range and skilled driver can have a lot of fun. I started in CO and Moab in a fullsize Bronco with front 60 SAS, 5.13, York OBA etc

In my case I owned my TJ Sahara for over 20 years and only replaced it with the JLU Sahara when my wife and I decided to -regrettably- downsize from five vehicles to three. I briefly considered the Bronco and the Defender but in each case I had little to no confidence in the local dealers while my Jeep dealer has always treated me very well. Nothing else with real 4X4 capability interested me in the slightest.

 

[Donald]

We probably have a larger sample size in this thread than Consumer Reports has.

I sincerely doubt it. They have millions of members and rate by year & model. And skip a rating if they do not have minimum sample size.

 

[Gasbuggy]

From my experience, the Gladiator drives better and is a much better value than the Wrangler JL

 

[4wd]

From my experience, the Gladiator drives better and is a much better value than the Wrangler JL

If I went looking at JT’s - would come home with a ZR2 …

 

[dishdude]

If I went looking at JT’s - would come home with a ZR2 …

Yep, I like the Gladiator but if I was in the market for a midsize pickup it would be a Colorado/Canyon

 

[svtrit]

Yep, I like the Gladiator but if I was in the market for a midsize pickup it would be a Colorado/Canyon

I was next to a Canyon yesterday and thought it was a nice looking truck, and the perfect size for my needs. I'm not really a Chevy fan, but it appears more appealing than a Ranger, which I would purchase.

It seemed to be the same size as an 80's squarebody, but is considered a small truck.

 

[4wd]

I was next to a Canyon yesterday and thought it was a nice looking truck, and the perfect size for my needs. I'm not really a Chevy fan, but it appears more appealing than a Ranger, which I would purchase.

It seemed to be the same size as an 80's squarebody, but is considered a small truck.

There is a black/white Colly ZR2 in our parking lot that drives me nuts … quick glance at 45k odometer and paid for - maybe a quick lip bite … I move on …

 

[4wd]

I have owned 5 wranglers all bought new and have never received a survey. From any one. No jd powers no cu nada. Who is getting surveyed? Since 2016 I have bought a new Subaru. Two new Hondas, 3 new jeeps, a new Mazda and new ram 2500. Not one survey request.

What’s been your luck with transfer cases? Been thinking of a boutique fluid - but ATF+4 is already a thicker/robust formula and Valvoline synthetic is half the price …

 

[jadmt]

What’s been your luck with transfer cases? Been thinking of a boutique fluid - but ATF+4 is already a thicker/robust formula and Valvoline synthetic is half the price …

Never once had issues with the tc’s in any of them and I use them rock crawling.