What's the deal with the Jeep hate?

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ClaimZestyclose348@reddit

It’s not the jeep itself, but the crowd of bad drivers that made Jeeps notoriously hated alongside Ford, BMW, and any pickup truck makers. Speeding, tailgating, cutting people off, throwing trash out to the other cars, being provoked like children over matter that’s most likely their fault — I can list more!

Blame the type of drivers that attracts them to the jeeps. Forever stained the car brand imo

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Pitiful-Mobile-3144@reddit

I’ve owned a few wranglers and have one now, I feel fairly qualified to comment here.

One of the big problems is that the Jeep brand itself has a lot of issues that the Wrangler gets roped into, despite really truly being a different thing than the rest of the brand. Wranglers are a niche vehicle and many buyers don’t exploit that niche, so they don’t like them.

First off, wranglers are the most reliable vehicles Jeep makes. I’m not saying they’re extremely reliable, but they’re not nearly as bad as people claim. They’re garbage on reddit, but go on the subreddit or other forums and they’re rock solid for the majority of people who trust them day in and day out in tough off-roading conditions. They a modern vehicle - take care of it and it’ll last.

Second, there’s the claim that they’re expensive. True. Counterpoint, they ALL have 4wd and they’re all convertibles. They’re one of the cheapest ways to get a car with an open top, there’s also the Miata but the wrangler is much more practical. They are THE cheapest 4wd vehicle bought new. Compare them to any other SUVs and you’ll see they pass the wrangler in price once you tick the 4wd box.

Finally, yeah, the ride quality isn’t great on road. The handling and inputs are “lazy”. Well, they’re not built for commuting, they’re built for trails. Take them off road, watch the axles flex, watch the lazy controls keep you on track, and be shocked by the stock capability.

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nolpeter@reddit

and we all use it only for commuting... to be fair i use it as a truck like a work truck

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Foolgazi@reddit

And they’re really not even expensive by new car standards. A basic Wrangler Sport can be had for low to mid $30s, which is $20K less than the average price of a new car in 2025.

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Pitiful-Mobile-3144@reddit

True, and for that you get best in class 4wd and a convertible that can tow and seat 4. I really just dont understand why they’re so hated

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Noel_San_Diego@reddit

Came here for this comment, drove mine 30-45 minutes a day for work commute/ groceries etc, the ride and tire noise was draining.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

You nailed all the reasons I bought one. It's going off road, and 4x4 will be used. I'm excited to take the roof off too. It's not a road trip car.

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DisastrousAnt4454@reddit

I hate jeeps cuz it’s fun to be a jeep hater.

I dislike jeeps because I think the brand is at odds with itself right now - trying to be both the crude off-roading legend but also being this upper class luxury suv thing - while being expensive and unreliable as hell on top of it all.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I'm just trying to understand if the unreliability is related to electric seats or a bad transmission. Nobody is saying, and it feels more like the anti-musk tesla hater club. Not because the car is bad, but by reputation.

I though this thread would pull out information. I was wrong.

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AggressiveNothing120@reddit

697 km and my Auto Start/Stop doesn't work. And the E-Brake is engaging itself despite the setting being disabled.

Take from that what you will. I have not had it long enough to know if this will translate into a transmission or engine issue.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I have yet to see any manufacturer make perfect cars. The question is what they do for you when you get one.

I am in a good enough position where I did not buy an extended warranty. I have never been hassled so much about getting that car covered. Clearly the people selling the extended warranties are making money, and they can't be if too many cars fail. I wouldn't be surprised if they use the "bad reputation" to sell more extended warranties.

At the end of the day, I'm sorry you are having trouble with your Jeep. If I'm honest, those two features you are having trouble with shouldn't be on a car. (The e-brake should be manual, not electric) I hate that those additions don't add value and do cause problems.

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AggressiveNothing120@reddit

Agreed, I am not a fan of these new features. I have been driving professionally for years, I can back a tri-quad tanker, 90° into a shop between two tool boxes. So lane control, traction control, back up cameras, auto e-brakes and auto start/stop all kinda drive me a little nuts. But them "failing" could suggest further electrical/electronic issues.

Now I put quotes around failing because I found out I was ignorant of how these things work.

The auto start/stop function does work, "under certain conditions" like it says in the manual. What I didn't put together was that if I have my heater fan on fairly high and it's below -10°C or colder, it's not gonna work. I've never had a car with this feature, so it didn't even cross my mind. That was my bad. It works, we had some warmer days and it was working fine.

As far as the E-Brake, even though "Auto E-Brake" was disabled, apparently if you open the door with the car in gear, it engages. When the dealer told me that, it made sense. I was double checking how straight I was in the parking spot as these cameras sometimes make it harder for me. I haven't done that since the first few days of running the car, so it hasn't done it. Again. My bad.

I am getting warranty work though, they didn't put mudflaps on, and the design of the Compass does not mix well with a lack of rock guarding, whether it's flaps or actual rock guard. The rear doors get absolutely peppered with sand. And you can see it's not chips, it's slices. Like teeny tiny razor cuts. The rocks come off the outer edge of the tire and just deflect off the door at a very low angle. I didn't realize it didn't have mudflaps until the one day I had the stereo down a bit and realized the rocks and pebbles are hitting the door. My Compass is a diamond Pearl black, with black rims, and more black on black so it just never registered that I didn't see the black mudflaps were missing. They are getting me the mudflaps and they took it to a paint shop today to price out a fix for the warranty.

I wanted to clarify this as I don't like slandering someone or a company. They've done right by me with this (so far, I don't see my car until tomorrow), but I wanted to clarify. Sorry for the wall of text.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

As far as the E-Brake, even though "Auto E-Brake" was disabled, apparently if you open the door with the car in gear, it engages. When the dealer told me that, it made sense. I was double checking how straight I was in the parking spot as these cameras sometimes make it harder for me. I haven't done that since the first few days of running the car, so it hasn't done it. Again. My bad.

LOL. My VW with a manual transmission does this. It frustrates me. I carry a bike on a hitch mounted rack, so the backup camera is a bit obstructed. I opened the door to see better and the e-brake applied. Grrrrr.

You have valid concerns, but if they take care of you, what more can you ask? (other than doing it right the first time)

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AggressiveNothing120@reddit

Absolutely. At least now I have brand new Jeep fitted mudguards on my Compass now, and I'm waiting on a quote for the fix of the paint. And did they ever make a difference already.

And they have a new door panel coming for the one with the defect. Shame they couldn't just fix it rather than order a new door panel but that's what they did.

Well, I guess we just have to Ace Ventura out the window if the camera is obstructed :)

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DisastrousAnt4454@reddit

It’s related to all of the above. If you’re looking for specific failure components, I’d probably be browsing a Jeep-focused sub instead of r/askcarguys where everyone hates jeeps and isn’t going to elaborate beyond “they’re shit” because most of us don’t actually own a jeep…because they’re shit.

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AggressiveNothing120@reddit

I agree and I just bought one. First and last one....

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Ivisk@reddit

This is the best answer and I’m more than 100% certain there will be many unreliability post of any keep vehicle

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DisastrousAnt4454@reddit

I just went to r/wrangler and searched “transmission” and it’s literally loads of posts about transmission issues. OP is coping their ass off - instead of researching the jeep they bought, they’re gonna ask a car guy sub and then get pissy when none of us own jeeps and can articulate every failure-prone component and which year they were problematic and what fixes are available.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I'm a simple person. I take really good care of my vehicles and we needed a 4x4. This was my wife's choice.

For some reason, this sub got recomended to me and there was a lot of jeep hate, and I wanted to understand if it was justified or just people on the internet spewing things they know little about.

It appears, this thread got a lot of responses from people who know nothing, but have heard of things. Your opinion here is included.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Silly me I assumed there was a reason to base that opinion on and it could be articulated.

I assumed the jeep focused sub (like so many) would be mostly fan boys.

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ChrisGear101@reddit

Several folks have mentioned specific issues. Gas engine issues, electrical issues, infotainment system issues, transmission issues, burning issues, diesel engine issues, death wobble issues. I know you are trying to justify your purchase, and I wish you well with it. Jeeps are fun and nice when they are working. Hopefully you dodge some of the common issues. Stelantis has ruined more than one car brand. Just a hard truth.

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Sorry-Height-6274@reddit

Its reputation is bad because the cars are bad.

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CanIGetAHOOOOOYAA@reddit

I bought a brand new jeep compass 2025 in August and had engine failure 12 days later.

I ended up getting a trim level above for the inconvenience.. I’m still low key scared after doing research after the fact. Anyways I’ve driven 2K MILES AND no issues so far 🥳

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AggressiveNothing120@reddit

Mine already has a dead Auto Start/Stop and the E-Brake is engaging itself despite explicitly disabling that option. Oh and a gap between the firewall and wheel well that allows muddy water into the engine compartment

Only 697 km on it. What other shit am I gonna see?

Fuck Jeep. First and last one I'll ever own.

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mrjgl@reddit

I had a Jeep Wrangler four door for a few years and although it did have some issues it got the job done and we went off road A LOT. It was the most fun in a vehicle I ever had. It was a 2008 Wrangler X (JK)

The Jeep got the death wobbles (Fixed with a new steering damper)
Had a constant check engine light (needed a new O2 sensor)
Had a leaky roof (never really was able to fix that)
Engine and Transmission never had any issues

The caveat is I lived on an island where the max speed limit was 35MPH so it never saw the highway until I moved back to the states. Any work that needed done I generally just did myself or with the help of a friend. By the time I moved I hadn't put but maybe 10,000 miles on it. I could get into why I sold it but long story short it was a custom built island off road vehicle that was now in Wyoming where its cold and long stretches of highway.

For me it was a great vehicle for what I wanted it to do. Short drives at slow speed, lots of off road time, and when I took care of it, it took care of me.

How has your Jeep been holding up with you?

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I'm happy with it. But it's my wife's car. It's her daily driver, but she doesn't drive a lot. We got it because we like to explore and find ourselves in some sketchy situations on not at all maintained roads. It's nice to be confident tin the vehicle when you run across a sketchy situation, and the Jeep has more capability than I have bravery.

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Fun_Variation_7077@reddit

They break a lot and are very crude. If you don't like the crudeness and/or don't have disposable income, you will certainly not be happy with a Wrangler. That said, I've known well-off people who like the crudeness, and were very satisfied with their Wranglers.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

What do you consider crude?

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SatanicAng3L@reddit

I've had two wranglers. I have loved them, they are some of my favourite vehicles I've ever owned, but I will tell anyone and everyone that they've been a giant piece of shit.

roof is plastic so it's hot in the summer and freezing in the winter
roof is plastic so there isn't good sound insulation and therefore is loud
vehicle is shaped like a brick so it's affected by wind significantly and also increases in cabin sound noise
I've owned both of mine as manuals, and that sure is a sloppy trans (shift wise)
the vehicle is a solid axle, while great for off roading, makes for very poor on road driving characteristics
door hinges are an area that often degrade/rust
interior surfaces (better now though!) are extremely poor and low cost
newer engines are great, but the 3.8L was a dog of an engine. Pretty damn reliable, but gutless and had an appetite for oil
general poor quality control from the manufacturer
windshield is nearly vertical, leading to significant rock chips (got 5 large hits one time driving back from a ski trip that was 2 hours long)
if you aren't used to a true selectable 4x4 drivetrain, it is significantly different than an AWD system that is often used for many newer vehicles

My mindset with my Jeeps was that they were a fun vehicle. It was a fun, stupid purchase. If anything broke, I just got to replace it with a badass piece of steel, or make it bigger, etc.

However if you think having a jeep is really neat and then you go buy a Wrangler for your long term daily driver, and are financing it, and don't intend to use it for any kind of lifestyle/off road purpose, then quite frankly - they are AWFUL vehicles. Any other regular old SUV on the market now will be better to drive, have more space, better fuel economy, etc.

Still have loved my Jeeps, but each time I bought them knowing they were going to be a short term / 3rd vehicle because driving that everyday all winter long was not fun.

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Fun_Variation_7077@reddit

Interior surfaces are incredibly poor

Buddy of mine had a 2016 and I disagree. The plastics were made of relatively good quality and were screwed together well. There are better interiors out there, but I wouldn't call the interior of the 2016 bad.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

So our new gladiator would fit your description, but I haven't experienced your problems. Other than my wife killing a bird with that vertical windshield.

We found the forester AWD to be shit in the snow, plus it left us stranded with a sensor issue. So I insisted on 4x4. We haven't had snow yet, but the throttle response is so much better than the subaru, I can't imagine it not being significantly better.

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finnbee2@reddit

I hated the OEM tires on my Subaru. I got some Falken Wildpeaks, and the problem was solved.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

it wasn't the tires, it was not being able to be light on the throttle. So when it was slippery, you'd get the wheels to spin way too easily. It felt designed for asphalt, and didn't like snow at all.

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finnbee2@reddit

When in a doubtful situation, I use the paddle shifter and take off in second.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Sure, but you shouldn't need to do that. Plus one for the Jeep then.

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finnbee2@reddit

You would need to put it in 4 wheel drive.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

not necessarily.

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CorgiRelative8084@reddit

LOUD LOUD NOISY RIDE.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Thanks for stalking me.

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CorgiRelative8084@reddit

It was just one post down. Happened to resonate.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Following me from another post to dig up a 2 month old thread is stalking. You need to get a life bro. Maybe get off of reddit and be nice to your partner, life's to short to be stalking redditors.

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Fun_Variation_7077@reddit

They're rough and rather unrefined. The older ones don't even feel like something that belong on public roads. There are some people who find that appealing, but many people find that offputting.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

They're rough and rather unrefined.

As was expected for that type of vehicle. If that's the complaint, that's not really valid to me.

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Psikosocial@reddit

I know this is reddit so Jeep = bad but i have a 2014 that’s been extremely problem free. It’s a pretty tried and true platform. Parts are a dime a dozen and it seems pretty easy to repair.

I think most of the issues come because people either don’t realize the Jeep is an off road vehicle that can go on road. They’re expecting it to ride and feel like their crossover.

Also a lot of problems come from Jeeps just being poorly modified. It’s an issue all enthusiast vehicles have.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I was thinking it's a pretty simple vehicle so if I maintained it well, it should be good. We also have proper expectations. It's not an AWD SUV, it's closer to an ranger.

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Bohottie@reddit

The Bronco isn’t unrefined. It’s actually a nice vehicle that has the capability of the Wrangler.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I hated the Bronco sport. The full size was significantly more expensive than the Jeep, and I like having the Truck bed.

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Bohottie@reddit

Not talking about the Bronco Sport, which is confusingly a different car than the Bronco. The very basic Wranglers are a bit cheaper than the Bronco, but similarly trimmed Broncos and Wranglers aren’t that far off, and the Broncos are build better and are more refined.

They don’t have the bed, though, you’re right, but I’d just buy a Tacoma if I wanted a midsize truck.

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Fun_Variation_7077@reddit

Then you might like the Wrangler. Just keep in mind that you will need a very thick wallet to be happy with owning one.

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Zp00nZ@reddit

It’s the wealthy man’s poor man’s car.

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DriverDenali@reddit

They drive horribly, it’s a box with solid axles, slow, basic interiors, outdated powertrain that should be reliable with its age but is still hit or miss… i say this being a gladiator owner.

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RoseBizmuth@reddit

Double down on the outdated powertrain. The 3.6 pentastar is a pretty old engine by now. Power ratings are ok enough but the fuel mileage is abysmal all things considered. And it still has a lot of issues it came with when it was first released

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I agree fuel milage isn't great. But it's not a high mileage vehicle.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Honestly, it drives better than the Forester we just replaced it with. I'm kind of used to basic interiors, and I don't have a problem with them.

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Lordert@reddit

That's why Subaru makes the Outback XT turbo.

I rented a Wrangle for a few weeks in Hawaii last year. The best part of the experience was knowing the Jeep was getting returned.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Having transmission issues with the forester was a concern. There is something comforting about me putting it into 4wd when I need it and not hoping it will work when needed.

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GroundbreakingMud996@reddit

I’ve recently been introduced to the wranglers again through work, I’ve driven both gas and hybrid several hundreds of miles. They feel sketchy above 75 the wheel lockers suck, towing sucks, it is torquey though and gets up reasonably fast. I wouldn’t want to own either tbh out of fear of reliability. I like the truck interior though it’s good for surface street driving without the top on and great for beach life. But if I had my choice of a newer off road suv, bronco, wrangler, or canyon, I’d take the wrangler in a heartbeat way better than the bronco it just feels cheaply built and the canyon ugh, just get a Silverado and that’s coming from a GM fanboy. I hate jeeps for one simple reason, the damn ducks! I get so tired of these poor driving bastards that can’t see out of a truck that already has poor visibility no they’re stacking ducks on the dashboard like they’re playing jenga.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I don't get the ducks. It's my wife's car and she said no ducks.

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CorgiRelative8084@reddit

Have you ever been hungover on the way to Waffle House in a wrangler? They are NOISY. It’s a great camping vehicle. Love it for that. But the tires we need to get to the campsite are $1k every 3-4 years. Plus they need to be rotated at each oil change. You can’t neglect a jeeps ties the way you do a Kia with $500 for a full set tires.

Gas mileage is a pity, it’s $75 a tank vs $40 for my Kia. The wrangler is great and very reliable. We will be keeping it but I am counting down the months until it’s paid off because we quite literally can’t afford a kid until that loan is over. And maybe that is the reason I’m so pissy over spending on concert tickets.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

No, you just come across as pissy. I'm back to feeling for your partner.

My wife loves her jeep, yes, I will have to maintain it, yes it will cost me more money. But I love my wife and I like to see her happy. I spent too much a a car for her happiness and I will take her to a concert that she wants to go to. I've got 35 years of happiness with her by doing these little things.

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ThaPoopBandit@reddit

It’s because it used to be a poor man’s off road vehicle until rich people gentrified it. It costs more, and has less off road use than when we first started. And they have poor quality engines and build quality. It’s not that we hate jeeps, it’s more of a “oh look at that idiot throwing his money away”

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CorgiRelative8084@reddit

So I got drunk and essentially texted this to my future MIL. Whoopsy daisy.

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CorgiRelative8084@reddit

For context, she helped my partner, her son, get a $30k loan to buy her out of her wrangler. She immediately went out and bought a new BMW SUV. Her husband and her hold the $700/mt jeep payment over my partners head constantly as a test of loyalty.

In my mind, someone got sick of the aesthetic of their Jeep and wanted a real luxury vehicle so they pawned A depreciating asset off on their unwitting son.

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True-Radio2943@reddit

Which is also how we feel about Land Rover.

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SnowedOutMT@reddit

Not Land Cruiser though

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Graywulff@reddit

I saw one of those canyanaroos, ugly as hell, nothing unique or cool about it.

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Nichia519@reddit

Jeep Technician here. I got transferred here from Hyundai, and before there I was at Honda. And before that I worked at several independent and chain shops, so I have a lot of experience and brands to compare to.

They are extremely unreliable and the interiors feel extremely cheap for costing $70k+.

I would 100% take a Hyundai over a Jeep, and that is NOT saying a lot at all, because Hyundai is also a fucking mess!

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FullSendthetic@reddit

For $40k my GC has a better interior than ANY other car ive been in, so id have to disagree. But i haven't experienced many newer car interiors tho, just 2020's and older mostly.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

We had some electronic sensor fail on our forester while we were out in the middle of nowhere. That totally messed up the AWD system, pretty much put us into limp mode.

for our use case, we wanted a real 4x4.

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ChrisGear101@reddit

How many miles were on your Subaru when the sensor went bad?

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Less than 100K. It's the first of my vehicles to have a significant issue that early. I usually get 200K out of my vehicles.

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FullSendthetic@reddit

I asked Google this and this is what the AI overview gave me in response about the criticism over the recent years: 1. Declining quality: Some consumers report a dip in quality assurance and build quality..citing issues like vibrations and squeaks on expensive vehicles. 2. Poor reliability: Critics point to reliability issues, such as poor-quality plastic parts like oil coolers, and engines that can be problematic 3. Manufacturing concerns: Reports suggest a general decline in quality control from the manufacturer over the years. 4. High price point: Many consumers feel Jeeps have become excessively expensive. 5. Poor resale value 6. Disappointing value: Some consumers are frustrated with the high cost of vehicles that have known issues. 7. Poor on-road comfort: While built for off-road capability, the solid axles and overall rugged construction make for a rougher and less comfortable ride on paved roads compared to many competing SUVs. 8. Interior issues: Some older models received criticism for cheap-feeling interior surfaces, though this is improving in newer models. 9. Noise and wind: The aerodynamic brick-like shape of models like the Wrangler leads to significant wind noise. 10. Windshield and paint chips: The near-vertical windshields are prone to getting hit by rocks..

This AI response didn't leave me satisfied with the question I fed it. Some of these clearly only apply to the Wrangler, and I have never owned a Wrangler. I've owned Grand Cherokees and currently own and drive a 2024 Grand Cherokee. So given that here are my 2 cents about the response:

Might only apply to Wrangler, but the build quality seems exceptional so far on my Jeep. Only time will tell the truth tho.
Similar to #1, only time will tell about the reliability of a newer vehicle. There have been multiple recalls on the same model I have but for the years before, and my 2024 came out of the factory with the recalls already fixed.
Yea maybe, but I don't know anything about the manufacturing process.
Grand Cherokees are kind of the luxury version of Jeep. For $40k for ALL the bells and whistles and fancy interior, I feel the price point was fair and justified.
Doesn't every new car depreciate the moment you drive it off the lot? I heard Jeep depreciated more than other brands, so yes, it is disappointing. But if you're buying a new car then you're probably not worried too much about the resale value.
This is obvious to me that it doesn't apply to my jeep, so I can't comment on this other than I disagree.
I think this was also a response to the Wrangler, which, yes it's an off-road vehicle first so you would know ahead of time that you're sacrificing comfort. For my jeep, it's honestly the most comfortable ride I've ever experienced in an SUV, and I'm excited for my 16 hour road trip this holiday. Smooth, great seats, feels great.
As the AI said, it's improving in newer vehicles. But the GC has always had great interior I would say. My jeep has received compliments from everyone who's been inside so far and I'm very impressed as well. "This is a jeep?" I've heard a couple times.
And 10. Obviously the Wrangler its talking about here. My buddy has a 13 year old Wrangler and that's just how they are, I mean everyone knows that, it's no surprise to anyone. My GC is extremely quiet on the inside - my commute to work is mostly driving on the highway. Smooth, quiet, comfortable, powerful.

Hopefully I don't come back in a year to update my comments about the quality and reliability, but ya it's just too soon for a newer vehicle to even try to defend that. That said tho, I have 22k miles and not a single problem.

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ocabj@reddit

As a Wrangler JK owner, I always discourage people from buying one because everyone who asks me about it 1) doesn't really drive offroad or need something that can handle harsh offroad conditions, 2) does not know how to wrench on their vehicles, much less change their own oil, and 3) does not own more than one vehicle and would daily the Jeep with no other vehicles to use.

Wranglers are still a great offroad platform given you have lots of flexibility to upgrade tires and suspension with the strength of solid front axles.

But the detractors are the lower quality control of Stellantis/CJDR and the price point of the modern Jeep.

I don't ever see myself buying another new/current production Jeep. I plan on keeping my Wrangler forever, but it's not like this is my only vehicle. I obviously use a truck for truck stuff and a regular car or a crossover SUV for regular driving / long distance.

That being said, people have a negative perception of the Wrangler and Gladiator because most are never used for what they were originally designed for (just like pickup trucks).

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Hey, I tick all three boxes.

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ocabj@reddit

Nothing wrong with that, but instead of a Wrangler you really should get an IFS vehicle. Why subject yourself to the solid front axle when purely on-road driving?

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

The litmus test was real 4x4. Of those vehicles, my wife got to choose since this is her daily driver. This was her choice.

We live in a rural community, she rarely goes over 60 mph, and the crappy roads in winter makes this a decent fit.

I'm not opposed to IFS, we aren't rock crawlers. This was just her preference of style. I do like the T-tops and removable roof. But we haven't used that yet, so it may not be as sweet as I want it to be.

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ocabj@reddit

Recommend you learn how to change axle seals. Don’t bother taking it to a dealer. I did that under warranty. Took forever for something I can do in 4 hours and I work slow.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Thank you. But I can't imagine them needing to be changed often.

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Suspicious-Spell-130@reddit

Corrosion. Enjoy.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I live in the desert. No salt on our winter roads. Not a huge concern for us.

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Suspicious-Spell-130@reddit

It's not a salt/winter issue. It's a paint/materials problem.

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One-Pangolin-3167@reddit

Yeah, the hate is really unwarranted. There are plenty of brands that have worse reliability but don't elicit the hate.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

I was mostly trying to see if the hate was directed at specific models, and that doesn't seem to be the case.

We knew what the Gladiator was when we bought it. The longer wheelbase helps the ride, and we knew it wasn't land rover. I feel some of the disappointment in reviews are from people expecting a land rover in a wrangler and being really disappointed.

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Birds-Arent_Real@reddit

Poor build quality under Stellantis, not incredibly comfortable (esp. the soft tops, you get lots of wind and they’re freezing if you’re somewhere with real winter), they’re not particularly enjoyable daily drivers.

The only real reason to get a Wrangler is off you are very outdoorsy and need a legit off-roading vehicle, yet even then there are more practical options.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Honestly, there aren't a lot of 4x4 options. Half of them are significantly more expensive than the jeep.

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Birds-Arent_Real@reddit

There aren’t tons of 4x4 options but there are a few good ones. Toyota’s got a couple models, Ford has the Bronco, Lexus has the GX. Personally if I had a need for significant off-roading I’d just go for a truck, so you get towing capability and better ride quality.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

We really don't like the full sized trucks. Too big, I don't even think I can get them in my garage.

The options you mentioned are all significantly more expensive than the jeep. I don't to pay for the upgrades a a driver who never sees the dirt wants.

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Birds-Arent_Real@reddit

Fair enough, trucks are definitely not the right vehicle for everyone.

From my experience, Wranglers are ok if you live in a remote area or want to actually use it for off-roading, like it’s intended for.

Modern Jeeps just don’t set themselves apart in terms of either performance or ownership costs. A full-size truck will match or exceed a Jeep in off-roading capability and give you perks like towing capacity. Comparable 4x4s may cost more but it evens out when you factor in lifetime ownership and repair costs.

DCJR under Stellantis just doesn’t prioritize quality builds or longevity. Their vehicles are cheap until the warranty period ends.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Makes me wonder if those extended warranties are plus or liability to them.

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Playful-Park4095@reddit

Social media amplifies everything, including how problematic the 3.6L Pentastar is. *Some* had cam issues, but this motor has been put in everything from Chargers to Rams to Jeeps and more. There's a ton of them out there that never have a cam issue, but social media is convinced that every Pentastar (and every Hemi) cam wipes if the owner farts too loud. The recent manual transmissions are pretty garbage in terms of both feel and durability, but the automatics are ZF transmissions, used in a lot of brands including BMW and is one of the most robust designs in production and shifts great.

Avoid the 4xe hybrid nonsense and odds of electrical issues go way down.

The Wrangler is great for what it is. A relatively short wheelbase vehicle with a short turning radius that's easy to maneuver in tight spaces, from offroad to tight parking garages. Excellent visibility, soft ride (good and bad, it's not a good handling vehicle at speed, nose dives under braking, noses up under acceleration, etc), and can go topless. It's also noisy and more cramped inside than you would think from the outside.

If we fly vs driving our own truck, we often rent a Wrangler. They are great for touring Nat'l Parks, for example. Tight parking lots to unmaintained roads, no problem. I have no desire to own one, personally, though.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Thank you. I was having a hard time imagining selling that many crappy motors. But I do feel there is something that makes people unhappy.

The gladiator we just got does seem simple. Solid axle, real 4x4, not many bells and whistles, but that's what we needed.

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Playful-Park4095@reddit

Gladiator is a nicer ride thanks to the altered rear suspension and longer wheelbase. More hangover in the rear, but unless you're doing harder trails it's not a huge deal and there are solutions as far as body armor and skids or wheels that go in the trailer hitch.

If you're happy with it, that's what counts.

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AlwaysBagHolding@reddit

Tight parking lots are one plus to a Jeep. I’ve never driven anything that can parallel park as easily as a TJ, and I’ve driven some tiny vehicles.

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Classic_rock_fan@reddit

Don't forget the Eco diesel recall, it was a massive recall that involved several years and makes of Jeeps.

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rns96@reddit

Because it’s trying to be a luxury price vehicle with inferior quality, if I wanted a expensive unreliable SUV I would get a range rover at least it’s luxury quality even though it breaks a lot

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Foolgazi@reddit

The Gladiator that the OP bought starts in the mid-$30s.

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Due_Ad_6085@reddit

The problem is mostly that the price point of Jeeps exclude many of those that would be perfectly fine driving a vehicle that is noisy, handles rough, bad mileage, not many base model options. If a wrangler cost $19,000 and came as a 4WD, 4cyl, 5 speed MT, there would be very few complaints.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

You can't get much of a car for $19K. My base model Jetta was more than that.

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Foolgazi@reddit

Seriously, $19K is Nissan Versa money.

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DJScaryTerry@reddit

Because they are EXPENSIVE, unreliable garbage that drives like they're broken right off the dealership. Honestly some of the most garbage vehicles sold today, especially the gladiator. They took the best parts of the Jeep and made it less practical off-road, but also less practical on the roads.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

OK, so nothing I have to worry about then. It worked right of the lot.

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LouSassel1@reddit

Every car should work right off the lot, it’s off the lot where the issues occur lmao

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dosko1panda@reddit

For now...

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ocabj@reddit

No one is stealing the catalytic converters off the 3.6L Pentastar of a Wrangler or Gladiator. It's a PITA to get to.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Not to mention they would likely need to take it from my garage, out in the country where we have guns.

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LouSassel1@reddit

They’ll be able to steal it off the side of the road when it breaks down and you can’t afford to have it towed because it’s on its 4th transmission

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Ok-Translator-7718@reddit

Is Just an expensive toy

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OtterCreek_Andrew@reddit

It’s the 2020’s and they still haven’t got death wobble all the war figured out

For me it’s mostly the owners modern culture are just a meme. The ducks, tacky stickers and names, built up to look like it’s ready to off-road but it’ll never leave the pavement, making it their personality etc.

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CanoegunGoeff@reddit

Because thermal expansion is a foreign concept to the idiots who designed the Pentastar engines, and it means that the valve guides over-expand and crack the cylinder heads randomly and often. It recently happened to my mother in law’s new Cherokee. And yet, Jeep will not fix or let go of the Pentastar engines.

Among other things that make Jeeps ride like garbage both off road and on road.

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Late-Button-6559@reddit

They’re a bad ownership experience. Not built well, not supported well by the dealer/manufacturer.

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FlappyJ1979@reddit

I received a Wrangler as a rental vehicle a couple weeks ago. That thing was the biggest POS I have ever driven. It handled like garbage and got 20mpg as a hybrid which is a joke. It felt unsafe over 55mph especially on a windy day and if a semi passed me going the other way it was a white knuckle ride. The only thing positive I have to say about it was that it was a rental and I got to take it back and wasn’t stuck making payments on it.

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Overall-Tailor8949@reddit

If you do mostly off-road/dirt-road driving then a Wrangler may be for you, this is even with tires designed for mostly road driving.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

It's not going to be most, but dirt was the reason for the purchase.

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Overall-Tailor8949@reddit

Jeeps in general (Wranglers in particular) usually have both stiffer suspensions and shorter wheelbases. While that makes them great for off-road hijinks, it also gives them a more uncomfortable ride compared to similar sized/weight cars.

If we could afford a second vehicle I'd LOVE to get my hands on an older (pre-Daimler purchase) Jeep CJ that was in good condition.

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hillbillyjogger_3124@reddit

JUNK. European company too.

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double-click@reddit

They can’t afford it.

The latest wrangler is the most capable off road that they have ever built. It’s just price driven.

See the top people mentioning it’s not “practical”…

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

My jetta is practical, the jeep gets us deep into the forest. So I guess that sort of makes it practical too.

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PinkGreen666@reddit

It’s just reliability/build quality reputation.

The old ones are cool, and people like them. The new ones are built and owned by a French conglomerate, and even before that Chrysler lost the plot.

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AbruptMango@reddit

The Wrangler is a superb vehicle that excells at doing things that no one needs to do. So people buy it for commuting and grocery shopping.

Reacting to customer feedback, Corporate optimized it for commuting and grocery shopping, adding things that detract from what it's actually designed for. As an example, the current Wrangler gets mocked for being prone to the "death wobble," a vibration that can happen in vehicles with a live front axle if you're using them on the highway instead of off-road.

The rest of the lineup is just SUVs trading off of the Jeep name.

So there's a lot of Jeep hate because the brand itself lives in two very different worlds, neither of which likes what the other needs.

The Cherokee isn't a bad platform.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

That's what I was trying to clarify. I see an offroad vehicle and a city based SUV. So if the complaints are about the city based SUVs, then I'll feel better about my offroad vehicle.

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outline8668@reddit

Just to be clear the death wobble is caused by having a solid front axle with a coil spring front suspension and unrepaired suspension wear. Dodge and Fords with this setup suffer the same problem. Dodge Ram went to this in 94, Jeep Wrangler in 97 and Ford F250/350 went to this in 04. Before that those models were all solid axle leaf spring front suspension which never had this problem. But people using these vehicles as cars wanted a more comfy ride so out with the leaf spring front end and in with the coil springs.

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WillieMakeit77@reddit

We had to have cylinder head replaced on our ‘22 Grand Cherokee at 8k miles. So there’s that.

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ZeGermanHam@reddit

Do some reading on the reliability issues of the Pentastar V6 that is in the Wrangler.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

OMG, you actually addressed my question.

Thank you!

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Visual_Hunt_3386@reddit

Skip the pentastar, get the 2.0 turbo. It’s smoother and more powerful. Mine has been flawless for the 34k miles that I’ve had it

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Classic_rock_fan@reddit

There was a massive recall of the eco diesels a number of years ago, it involved several makes and model years of vehicles. I remember Jeep getting a lot of hate from that .

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boomhower1820@reddit

I had a two door wrangler and absolutely loved it. It rode like shit, handled horribly, guzzled fuel among other many drawbacks. That said, one my favorite vehicles I’ve ever owned. If you get a wrangler it’s not about the vehicle itself but the lifestyle so to speak. The doors and roof came off in April and went back on in November. No other vehicle offers that ability. Well the Bronco now but that wasn’t a thing then. The rest of the jeep lineup is garbage, particularly the lower end stuff.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Toytota offered leather seats, the Jeep said I can take the roof off. Yes, I'm more Jeep that way.

I like the longer wheelbase of the gladiator, it rides a bit better.

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Bohottie@reddit

They pieces of garbage. The Wrangler used to be decent, but here is so much more competition out there now. There is pretty much no reason to buy a Wrangler over a Bronco at this point. It’s better in every way. Stellantis is a shit company and will likely be bankrupt in 10 years.

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ChrisGear101@reddit

I almost agree, except, they were really never super reliable. The 4.0L was a great engine, but they were only reliable vehicles when they were super basic in construction. When they started being modernized with electronics and creature features, they always struggled. Even something as simple as air conditioning seemed to be difficult for Jeep/Chrysler to make well. The "reliable" Jeeps were Jeeps that most modern Jeep owners won't drive. Too basic to be mass marketed, or too complicated for Chrysler to manufacture (unfortunately).

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stacksmasher@reddit

Are the Jeep engines really that bad?

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Lun4trik42@reddit

Okay I photographed cars for a living and worked at a CDJR.

The brand new Cherokees can’t hold a charge. There were 30+ on the lot bricked. They all needed replaced. Not charged. Replaced.
New Wranglers are nothing like their older counterparts. I got to drive a few of the older ones being sold while I was there and the difference is shocking. The engine, suspension, everything is different on the new ones. And not in a good way.
I got into a lifted Wrangler apparently some sort of custom order. I drove it straight to the service bay and insisted it was broken. Something seemed so very wrong with the suspension. It was one of few manuals so I was initially excited followed immediately by horror as soon as I was in second gear. The service guys had a good chuckle, told me it’s somehow supposed to feel that way, and off I went. I’m sure it would be fine off road. But getting it there?!?! Would feel like driving a concrete brick with roller skate wheels.

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ChrisGear101@reddit

2 things. #1, rubber duck stupidity. #2, they are just not well engineered or manufactured.

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delicate10drills@reddit

A not-small percentage of all Chrysler products are equipped with transmissions with very limited durability. Jeep=Chrysler=Ram=Dodge.

Chrysler built Jeeps that were still made while adhering to AMC’s designs & metallurgy recipes were reliably reliable.

Jeeps that are fully Chrysler vehicles are reliably unreliable.

Make space in the driveway or back yard for a pre-2006 Jeep with the 4.0HO & manual 5 speed as a spare for when her new “Jeep” is in the shop. Buy one with minimal rust & a decent interior, give it a little overhaul and drive it once a week to keep it ready to jump into action.

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outline8668@reddit

The worst part about those era jeeps (I own one) is trying to keep the rust off them

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upsetcabbagefart@reddit

Shit build quality. Stupidly overpriced. Their market is basic bitches, drug dealers, and man children. The duck thing is dumb too.

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Jaymoacp@reddit

I saw two mid 20’s guys, top off. Doors off. Barefoot. Pegs on the side for their feet to hang out listening to paralyzer by finger 11. In October in New England.

Jeep owners are basically the vegans of the car world. They talk about an 02 wrangler like it’s a Benz.

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upsetcabbagefart@reddit

At least the 02 Wrangler was a real Jeep.

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Cant_Work_On_Reddit@reddit

I have an lj and it’s a great off-roader and city car. Low speeds with the top off it’s amazing, and super easy to park. Long freeway drives are its biggest detriment. I think a lot of the jeep hate is just with people using them for things they’re not great at (same as a lot of cars)

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Unusual-External4230@reddit

There are a lot of reasons, some silly and some reasonable.

Jeep has a long history of poor build quality and reliability issues relative to other cars of the same era. They have a history of safety problems in earlier generations. They are often uncomfortable compared to other vehicles of the same eras.

Most people that buy them never off road them, some go to the extent of adding winches, hilift jacks, lifts, etc and they only ever see pavement.

Jeep people can be kinda annoying about owning Jeeps and looking down on other off-road vehicles even when they never wheel them. The whole duck thing is kinda weird but whatever.

Personally idgaf if someone else buys one, I'll just never own another one after my experiences.

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other_view12@reddit (OP)

Thank you.

We will be taking our off-road. Jeep wasn't my first choice, but it was my wife's and it's her car. So far, it seems rather solid. My work has Bronco sport, and I put the veto on that vehicle based on actually driving it.

I don't get the duck thing, and I won't be going to jeep events. But we do get pretty far back into the mountains on some sketchy roads, and that's why we got it.

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Unusual-External4230@reddit

You wouldn't want to seriously off road a Bronco Sport anyway. I see them on gravel roads and such, they do fine, but anything above what a Subaru can handle is out of reach for those. The full size Bronco is a closer cousin to the Jeep, good and bad.

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SneakyRussian71@reddit

Broncos are the Jeep of Fords. I had one as a rental, granted a fairly base model, I traded it in a day later for something else. It had decent interior quality and turned pretty well, but the engine and drivetrain felt and sounded like I was driving a lawn mower. I had a Grand Cherokee for about a week, and I liked how that one handled and drove. Of course, as a rental, I have no idea how the reliability would be in those.

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Unusual-External4230@reddit

I drove a 21 Bronco Badlands Sas for 2 years and I have mixed feelings on it.

My dad had the same car I did, he had a lot more issues. His was in a block of engine serial #s that had problems with engine failures, but Ford wouldn't recall them. He was driving down the road and it threw a rod, required an entirely new motor build. Both of ours had more recalls that any other vehicle I've owned cumulatively. I also know folks have issues with the swaybar disconnect and I personally found some features of the car (like turn assist) to be dangerous on trail and pointless. The Ford solution for winch mounting was stupid.

I didn't have any major issues but I wasn't keeping it past the warranty expiration. I did like the interior and thought it drove fine for the most part. It did OK off-road.

I got mine for 53k though, no way I'd pay what asking is now though.

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MikeWANN@reddit

Death wobble

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Dear_Efficiency_3616@reddit

prepare your wallet friend. shoulda bought a toyota tbh

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LandCruiser76@reddit

I'm an FJ40 guy- I'm fine with jeeps themselves. (or atleast before they were aquired). I do trails with them i have friends with them- I would own an XJ. or a CJ

I don't like it because it is good. But not as good as everyone always goes on about- and the people that never shut up are quite persistently annoying.

But the reality is- they are A LOT of hype for a pretty decent off-roader.
-Minus the 4.0 (and maybe the new 427) there isn't a single jeep engine i would choose to put in a car. And the 4.0 is only there because, despite being sloppy, inefficient, and leaky, it runs forever if you put oil in.
-The control layout in half of them is bizarre. Why are the switches for the doors in the center if the doors are removable anyway?
-The build quality just isn't there compared to the Toyotas, Nissans, and Subarus I've owned. -interior falls apart, rusts quickly etc. My friends had some late 90's ones that were FALLING apart, while the nissan beater i picked up had some cracks in the dash, but wasn't activily disintegrating when you touched the plastics and it was 10 years older.
-Most of the ones on the road are running summer tires and open diffs but driving into insane places and getting stuck because "its a jeep" it can get there. (I pull atleast one rental jeep out of the ditch a year) So a lot of people get into them, thinking they have something way more capable than they actually are. and then ruin experiences for the rest of us.
-It attracts a lot of the WOOO MURICA guys who are just BLASTING music on trail when my goal is to get as far away from people as possible.
-The ducks are just annoying. Why are we literally putting manufactured garbage on my car? What is this, a Tesla? Like I don't want to collect them- stop.
-The steering geometry is atrocious. They have had death wobbles for 50 years and have made no plans to fix it.
-The fucking Joker builds... Why.
-19" rims with rubber band tires.
-The angry jeep grills. Just looks like you need someone to assure you of your manhood
-The windshields are literally always broken. My fj40 which is 50 yo has never broken glass and its driving the same terrain.
- The false confidence. Again, this one kinda loops back to the open diffs. but just the vibe on trail when i meet *some (not all) jeep guys is just reckless and selfish. Picking stupid lines, blocking up trails not respecting right of way on technical 2-way trails. The car is a great way to enter off-roading- but it gets all the whahoos because of that.

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houndofthe7@reddit

Jeeps and Mopars are often marketed to low-income, less financially savvy individuals, luring them with flashy designs and aggressive financing. High interest rates and long loan terms lead to overwhelming debt, leaving buyers upside down on their loans. Unreliable vehicles and costly repairs further strain budgets, pushing many toward financial ruin and bankruptcy.

So if this type of vehicle appeals to you, you should take a step back, look at your life, question your past mistakes, look inward-and maybe admit you're a little mentally slower than average.

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shreddedsharpcheddar@reddit

jeeps fucking suck

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UnluckyEmployer275@reddit

Terrible build quality and their fans are pretty damn annoying - it's mostly jeep people who ruin them.

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Jjmills101@reddit

Jeeps main issues are typically electrical and pretty much exist across their entire lineup. They cheap out on wiring, architecture, and weather protection which leads to a ton of problems. The fact that it’s offroad isn’t an exceptionally meaningful distinction for that anymore. Sorry

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Old_Assist_5461@reddit

Until recently I lived in the foothills of the Sierra mountains. In 20 years of living next to a steep incline about 20 minutes from a ski resort I saw many cars, in both summer and winter, give up the ghost along the side of the steep road. 100 percent jeeps. I would never buy one.

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Naramie@reddit

https://youtu.be/zaYFLb8WMGM?si=Wgs7z0GYdPr4zjth

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dirtydan442@reddit

Cost cutting and sloppy assembly makes Jeep what it is

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bkkgnar@reddit

the fucking dumbass hyper cringe duck thing

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cadcamm99@reddit

I guy at work bought a new Wrangler two years ago. In the nine months that he had it, the big display in it stopped working and the engine stopped working. He had to get a new engine. They never fixed the display.

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motorwerkx@reddit

Luxury car prices, poor reliability, meh off-road capability stock, small interiors, and an insufferable fan base...

Seriously, drive one for awhile and enjoy the poor on-road handling, the road noise, the poor fuel economy, lack of features, and then realize you just spend around 35k for a base model. Take that base model off road and come to find out it still needs suspension, more aggressive and much louder tires and some lockers so your friend with the clapped out Tacoma doesn't have to pull you out. Oh, you want more power, features, and off-road equipment. Cool, get a Rubicon for 60k and still get the road noise poor handling and legendary unreliabilty. 60k and it will be in the shop constantly... Also, if you want to tow anything significant you'll still need to buy a truck.

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The fact they are slow, poor handling, unreliable and inefficient. At least do ONE thing well

The ducks

Stellantis

Etc