How reliable (or unreliable) has your TJ been?

[Squatch]

Right now, the only thing I can rely on with my TJ is that it needs me to keep funneling money into it. The previous owner did little maintenance, and it shows. Still, it has 204,000 miles on the clock, and you don't get that by being broke down all the time, so it says something about its sturdiness, if nothing else. Now my little bride's XJ, that one gets taken care of. Bought it with 102,000 on it, and she's clicking toward 170,000 now. Dependable as the day is long. Love those 4.0 sixes!

 

[oldb]

I have had my 2000 4.0 TJ for almost a year now. It has 89,000 miles. So far no issues. I am old school, have to deal with electronic issues with vehicles at work all day, I really appreciate how simple it is. I look at the new pickups with heated steering wheels, back up assist, and a host of other items I really can not comprehend, they may be quite reliable, I don't know. But I am glad I don't have to troubleshoot those.

B

 

[JeepNWilly]

I have owned my 2006 Wrangler X since March 2006 when I drove it off the dealer. It has been my daily driver about 30 to 40 miles daily and also a weekend warrior in the swamps of South Florida. It was stuck in the mud about 1 month after I drove it off the dealer. Spend the first 5 years of its life wheeling through mud and deep water while also serving as a family vacation vehicle driving it from Florida to The Outer Banks of NC and to the mountains of NC. It has been beaten to shreds but has never let me down. I still use it today as my daily driver I just work very close to home these days like maybe 3 miles round trip to work and back.

Any off the issues it has had in its life so far are 100% my fault and not the Jeep. I feel that @jeep_boss TJR was severely mistreated by its previous owner and now unfortunately @jeep_boss is the one dealing with the aftermath and poor maintenance choices of the of the previous owner.

Below are some pics of the life of my TJ. It is not a trailer queen so I drive it everywhere and I used to also tow a pop-up camper to many of the trips.
April or May 2006

March 4th 2007 Outer Banks NC

June 2007 Outer Banks NC

June 2007 Beech Mountain NC

June 2007 Bear Den Campground NC Mountains

May 2008 Sand Dunes Albany GA (Well more like a mining site LOL)

2009 Hard Rock Ocala FL

2010 WindRock TN

2011 Uwharrie NC

Here is a before and after

Got caught in a controlled fire at Croom WMA

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

I have owned my 2006 Wrangler X since March 2006 when I drove it off the dealer. It has been my daily driver about 30 to 40 miles daily and also a weekend warrior in the swamps of South Florida. It was stuck in the mud about 1 month after I drove it off the dealer. Spend the first 5 years of its life wheeling through mud and deep water while also serving as a family vacation vehicle driving it from Florida to The Outer Banks of NC and to the mountains of NC. It has been beaten to shreds but has never let me down. I still use it today as my daily driver I just work very close to home these days like maybe 3 miles round trip to work and back.

Any off the issues it has had in its life so far are 100% my fault and not the Jeep. I feel that @jeep_boss TJR was severely mistreated by its previous owner and now unfortunately @jeep_boss is the one dealing with the aftermath and poor maintenance choices of the of the previous owner.

Below are some pics of the life of my TJ. It is not a trailer queen so I drive it everywhere and I used to also tow a pop-up camper to many of the trips.
April or May 2006
View attachment 31928

March 4th 2007 Outer Banks NC
View attachment 31933

June 2007 Outer Banks NC
View attachment 31934


June 2007 Beech Mountain NC
View attachment 31935

June 2007 Bear Den Campground NC Mountains
View attachment 31936

May 2008 Sand Dunes Albany GA (Well more like a mining site LOL)
View attachment 31937

2009 Hard Rock Ocala FL
View attachment 31938

2010 WindRock TN
View attachment 31939

2011 Uwharrie NC
View attachment 31940
View attachment 31941

Here is a before and after
View attachment 31932


Got caught in a controlled fire at Croom WMA

Awesome pic's, thanks for sharing.

 

[skrelnik]

Well my '05 A4 had 155K on the clock and it ran flawlessly the entire time. Only left me stranded once and that was the battery, so I can't be too upset by it. I put next to nothing in it and just took really good care of it. The 1.8T is a great motor and the 6speed was great. I did finally replace the clutch at 152K, but I live in a very hilly area, so it does wear the clutch a bit more around here.

I also had an XJ that had 150K on it when I sold it to a friend that still drives it with over 250K on it and it is running strong. Has a Rubicon 5.5 lift, Dana 44 rear posi with four wheel disk brakes and 35's on it. It is also a 5 speed and I bought it new. Loved it, so I am back in a Jeep, but still have an S5 for trips. The 13 or newer S4's and 5's are very good, but not the pre 13's. Love cars and have had a TON of them from Mercedes, BMW's, Alfas, old Vettes, Jags, 55 Chevy, 280zx and just so many cars. Back in a Jeep and can't wait to drive it. Hate waiting, but a month or so isn't the end of the world.

We currently have a 06 Audi A4 Avant (6 speed manual) and the only issue was a fuel pump. I believe the root cause is too much ethanol in the gas for these old style fuel pumps. Other than that, all good.

The 05 LJ ( 6 speed manual) I have owned since 2009 and put 60k miles on it. The only issue is every summer my four O2 sensors go off when temperatures hit the 90s. They eventually clear but it annoys the crap out of me. So other than this, and wear and tear items, it has been perfect.

Had a 2010 BMW 535 (6 speed manual) and while fun to drive that was in the shop every other month.

BMW is a garbage product now and even more so since they castrated the M5 by eliminating the manual tranny.

Once I am down with the Audi Avant I am taking a look at a Jeep Trackhawk for the family cruiser.

 

[skrelnik]

Awesome pic's, thanks for sharing.

Yeah, great pics man! Love seeing the progression over the years.

 

[Mike_H]

Reliability is a tough thing to quantify. Some people think reliabilty means they buy a vehicle, and never spend another dime on it. Others correctly understand that maintenance is part of the total cost of ownership. Mine has been reliable...I trust it enough to embark upon a 500 mile journey, late at night, through the uninhabited wilderness that is called Michigan's Upper Pennisula, and I have. BUT...its / was bone stock. You start making changes to things, like giant tires, suspension lifts, superchargers, etc. and you are pushing things outside the envelope of "design intent"

I get ticked when I hear people complain about different makes, or American vs Japanese, etc. when blindly categorizing them is a logical fault. Sure...bad mouth your Ford, that you or a previous owner have done NOTHING to to maintain, and praise the Toyota that has had a full maintenance history. Or, Slap some 35s on a Jeep, then start bitching that the wheel bearings are shit. Guess what genius, the 35's are CAUSING the wheel bearings to be shit. People expect that vehicles are built to last through every imaginable idiotic thing they do to them, and they are not. They are built to a set of specifications, determined by marketing who uses focus groups. Same with aftermarket parts...I see it on the forums all the time. They will take something and use it not as the manufacturer intended, it breaks or otherwise does not perform well, and they bash it all over the internet. Well, its their own damn fault. The customer is always right, my ass. Whoever said that obviously never worked retail or manufactured consumer goods.

That is one of the reasons I like this forum, is that there is less of that bullshit around. The group that is here tend to be a little older, a little wiser, and use some logic and reason.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. I do have to say that I'm sorry to those who've struggled with Audis. I have a '12 Q5 that has had service performed on it as the manual suggests, and its been a wonderful little SUV. I bought it new, its comfortable, quiet, good on gas, looks good, etc. Sorry you all haven't had the same experiences.

 

[gg1]

We currently have a 06 Audi A4 Avant (6 speed manual) and the only issue was a fuel pump. I believe the root cause is too much ethanol in the gas for these old style fuel pumps. Other than that, all good.

The 05 LJ ( 6 speed manual) I have owned since 2009 and put 60k miles on it. The only issue is every summer my four O2 sensors go off when temperatures hit the 90s. They eventually clear but it annoys the crap out of me. So other than this, and wear and tear items, it has been perfect.

Had a 2010 BMW 535 (6 speed manual) and while fun to drive that was in the shop every other month.

BMW is a garbage product now and even more so since they castrated the M5 by eliminating the manual tranny.

Once I am down with the Audi Avant I am taking a look at a Jeep Trackhawk for the family cruiser.

I think BMW has gone down hill for the most part and so has Mercedes. Loved my old '03 330i with 6 speed of course, but not a fan of their new models. They don't seem to be driver's cars anymore, but the 2 series looks nice. I really think Audi made great moves since '13 and newer and back when they had the 1.8t. Love that you have an Avant manual. Sweet ride.

I think a manual transmission is helpful for longevity as it is a cushion in your drivetrain and if you are a good smooth driver, your car will reward you.

 

[bobthetj03]

Reliability is a tough thing to quantify. Some people think reliabilty means they buy a vehicle, and never spend another dime on it. Others correctly understand that maintenance is part of the total cost of ownership. Mine has been reliable...I trust it enough to embark upon a 500 mile journey, late at night, through the uninhabited wilderness that is called Michigan's Upper Pennisula, and I have. BUT...its / was bone stock. You start making changes to things, like giant tires, suspension lifts, superchargers, etc. and you are pushing things outside the envelope of "design intent"

I get ticked when I hear people complain about different makes, or American vs Japanese, etc. when blindly categorizing them is a logical fault. Sure...bad mouth your Ford, that you or a previous owner have done NOTHING to to maintain, and praise the Toyota that has had a full maintenance history. Or, Slap some 35s on a Jeep, then start bitching that the wheel bearings are shit. Guess what genius, the 35's are CAUSING the wheel bearings to be shit. People expect that vehicles are built to last through every imaginable idiotic thing they do to them, and they are not. They are built to a set of specifications, determined by marketing who uses focus groups. Same with aftermarket parts...I see it on the forums all the time. They will take something and use it not as the manufacturer intended, it breaks or otherwise does not perform well, and they bash it all over the internet. Well, its their own damn fault. The customer is always right, my ass. Whoever said that obviously never worked retail or manufactured consumer goods.

That is one of the reasons I like this forum, is that there is less of that bullshit around. The group that is here tend to be a little older, a little wiser, and use some logic and reason.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. I do have to say that I'm sorry to those who've struggled with Audis. I have a '12 Q5 that has had service performed on it as the manual suggests, and its been a wonderful little SUV. I bought it new, its comfortable, quiet, good on gas, looks good, etc. Sorry you all haven't had the same experiences.

Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel RB. Lol! I agree with you buddy. people need to engage some grey matter.

 

[Chris]

I think BMW has gone down hill for the most part

Give the number of old and new BMWs I have owned (and my Mom as well), I'd have to agree with you on this! They definitely used to be much more of a "drivers car" if you ask me.

 

[dangjalopy]

This is my third. The first was a 97 that was just plain nilly willy. Decided to trade it (with roughly 160k) in 2003 and got my second with 12k on it. I ran that sucker until it had 330k and only replaced the top, tires, battery and starter. I think I may have replaced the thermostat once but can't remember. At 330k it was going strong and only sold it to get my ex wife a safe car to haul our little ones around in. This third one, I got cheap and I am slowly fixing some of the things I don't like like the crack prone head and drive shafts and after market fuel pump which caused the starter to go bad. I would say they are pretty damned reliable or I have been pretty damned lucky.

 

[gg1]

I would say they are pretty damned reliable or I have been pretty damned lucky.

You are probably a good driver as well. I don't think you can be a lousy driver and get that many miles out of any car. Well done.

 

[Chris]

You are probably a good driver as well. I don't think you can be a lousy driver and get that many miles out of any car. Well done.

There’s a guy on here who had 600k on his TJ with the original engine before he sold it.

 

[grr]

Bought mine new in 2000 so I know it’s full history. Still a daily driver with 148k on it now. I’ve replaced my radiator, CPS, CKS, rebuilt motor due to broken piston skirt and dealt with heat soak. Had the common RMS leak, replaced a/c lines, master cylinder and brake booster. Not to mention other “maintenance” items I’ve done like unit bearings and ball joints and clutches and water pumps. Throw in problems I haven’t had like a cracked head or OPDA issues. So would I say the 4.0 is indestructible and a TJ is a reliable vehicle?......I don’t know about that. Still my favorite vehicle I’ve ever had though.

 

[dangjalopy]

You are probably a good driver as well. I don't think you can be a lousy driver and get that many miles out of any car. Well done.

Well I won't say if I have or have not been in any accidents because I don't want to jinx myself. But I definitely don't speed in my TJ because it is too hard to hahaha.

 

[dangjalopy]

There’s a guy on here who had 600k on his TJ with the original engine before he sold it.

I wonder how much he got for it. That is ton of miles. i probably would have just replaced the motor and moved on up to a million.

 

[StG58]

There's a common thread here.

The maintenance has to be kept up with. Even if you can't use the best parts available, it still pays off to do the maintenance.

If something breaks, or starts to malfunction, ya gotta repair it before other issues crop up.

If you modify it, you have to think through the whole system, and do the whole modification, not just a half assed attempt.

You have to drive with your head, not your testosterone. A person can break anything given half a chance.

The saving grace of a TJ (and the XJ) is they are about as simple and straight forward as a modern vehicle can get. Fewer systems and fewer parts means fewer failure points. Fewer failure points means a longer mean time between failures. Add to that the incredible number of parts available for TJ's right off the shelf, and you have a reliable, long lived vehicle for off road use. Or putzing around town on a Saturday night.

 

[Chris]

I wonder how much he got for it. That is ton of miles. i probably would have just replaced the motor and moved on up to a million.

No idea, but I know he went through 3 transmission rebuilds in that time, which is actually completely normal. An engine can last 600k for sure, but a transmission needs to be rebuilt every 200k or so. I'm with you though, I would have just kept it!

 

[Chris]

Let's also understand that while the Wrangler is advertised to go anywhere and handle any type of terrain (which it will really do in most cases), you also have to understand that should you choose to use your Jeep that way and heavily off-road it, you're going to wear things out twice as fast. Bigger tires equals more stress on things like ball joints, unit bearings, etc. Crawling it in the rocks, tearing through the mud, etc... That stuff all adds up to abuse, and you're going to find parts failing on you faster than you would if you just drove it to and from work.

The same can be said for my old M3. It's a great track car, but guess what happened the moment I took it to a track day? Went through tires in about a day, brakes were gone in about a day, and I probably took a good portion of the life out of the transmission (from all the fast shifting), driveline components, etc. In other words, if you race a car like that, it's going to cause it to wear twice as fast. That's just life, and there is no way around that regardless of what make or model of vehicle you buy.

I also might add that this is why when I buy used Jeeps, I prefer to buy ones that are mostly stock, unmolested, lower miles, and from the original owner (or at least one that hasn't had that many owners). Those ones are the ones that are less likely to have been beaten on. If you buy one with 35" tires, a huge lift, etc., there's more of a chance it was abused and not properly maintained.

I suspect a lot of the TJs that people end up having issues with are ones that were neglected by previous owners, and now that many of them are around 20 years old, the problems are really starting to pop up.

 

[StG58]

Good points! Neglect and abuse will kill a TJ faster than rust will.

As a side point...We had a system in the Navy called the "Planned Maintenance System" PMS for an acronym.

The PMS was a program that was based on a fixed schedule where every nut, bolt and component part was examined for wear and damage based on it's historical longevity. A part would come up on the schedule, you'd pull the card and perform the maintenance as described in detail on the card. The cards gave all the information on tools, supplies down to how many rags might be required, detailed assembly and disassembly instructions, measurements to check and how to correctly check them...in short, everything you needed to know.

Some of the machinery that I was working on was 30 or more years older than I was at the time. Guess what? For high performance machinery, 36,000 shaft HP, it ran like a swiss watch just back from the watchmakers.

Never, ever underestimate the value of proper maintenance and repair. I've got many stories where the PMS caught a problem before it was even noticeable during operation. Things like stretched bolts or failing gaskets.

Sometimes, I'll grab a hand full of rags, wrenches and a very small ball peen hammer and lay under the TJ looking, tapping, wiping and wrenching. Just 'cause. It's relaxing and once in awhile I'll find something. That's why my TJ is so bloody reliable.

Anybody want to buy a used SE? lol, Just kidding!