Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

How do you feel about Jeep quality?

AndyG

AndyG

Because some other guys are perverts
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I use the word quality very little , because it means different things to different people . I've seen Jeep's revered and have heard them cussed.

I've seen and read all kinda of opinions on all kinds of Jeeps , and here is my take -

These things often get bought, left in the rain with the top off ,ran through the worst stuff folks can find , not serviced properly , ran geared wrong , tow loads they shouldn't, get hot rodded by punk kids , and worked on by people of all degrees of mechanical aptitude...and still bounce back , mile after mile .

No civilian vehicle made would fare any better .

Maybe this thread is pointless , but Jeeps aren't cars . They aren't trucks . Those were already around. Jeeps were designed to get people anywhere , and seem to still serve that role well.

No, most of then don't have powered seats , etc . You can't break what you don't have .

I've had 7 , and enjoyed them all. Were they all nice ? Not really . Some were worn out , some antiquated and a few were real nice. They all cranked and ran all the time , and held up pretty good ...parts were easy to find , though I rarely needed any ....and most of them had lived pretty rough lives.

I liked everything from 1980 on , especially the Cj-7 series , the yj dash was pretty Chrysler , but they look good lifted , and the TJ is just the best of all of that era combined.

Jk and on...I'd actually love the 4 door if it had less electrical issues and a motor better mated to it's chassis size ...but that's another story .

How do you feel about Jeep quality?
 
My biggest hate of the whole brand in general is how they love rust. They must love rust because they don't do much of anything to avoid it.

I've seen too many Wranglers way less than ten yrs old with the front fenders rusted in half, holes under the doors and at the rear quarter panel seams. Did I mention major holes in the frame?

I don't know how the newer Wranglers will hold up, they probably won't, but at least through the TJ years, the bodies and frames seem no better than when Jeeps started being built.

Beyond their love of rust, I think the rest of my TJ is pretty decent as far a quality goes.
 
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Are you specifically referring to the Wrangler model? You mention “Jeeps” which of course have many models. I’ve owned two Grand Cherokees, a Liberty, and of course the Wrangler.

The WK was virtually problem free for ten years until the end when I sold it. Zero rust, and the only mechanical issues were two bad water pumps.

The WK2 is too new to comment on, but I worried about how everything is electronic.

The Liberty was a huge piece of shit that had transmission, heating, and other little mechanical problems. I know my wife didn’t keep up with it, but I don’t think lack of maintenance caused most of its issues.

The TJ, for being seventeen years old, would be relatively problem free if not for all of the modifications and driving that comes with those modifications.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the Jeep brand.
 
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I was thinking of Wranglers when I wrote that.... But any in general is fine .

I really agree they shouldn't be rust prone .... considering what they will be exposed to water wise typically.
 
AndyG said:
I was thinking of Wranglers when I wrote that.... But any in general is fine .

I really agree they shouldn't be rust prone .... considering what they will be exposed to water wise typically.
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Maybe they’re not rust prone. Maybe they just get treated like a Jeep. And if you add salt to that equation it can get really bad really fast.
 
JMT said:
Maybe they’re not rust prone. Maybe they just get treated like a Jeep. And if you add salt to that equation it can get really bad really fast.
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Well said . I bet everything rusts where Jeep's rust . Salt is awful.
 
I have no complaint at all over the Jeep brand. Couple XJ, WJ,TJ, LJ and anyone ever let me down even when their maintenance wasn't as need it.
As far of my Wranglers, Quality is more than proved on this vehicles. The TJ was and still and experiment specimen and still go anywhere without problems. I do think when you mess with virtually everything on a vehicle and the same respond back going and going forward it has some good on it.
I do always think that the rust part on the Wranglers is what keep them in production Today. If Chrysler address that point not too many fellas look at them as a maybe forced daily driver looking to be on the Jeep style trend.
 
jjvw said:
When I travel back to the upper midwest, I notice that there are very few vehicles over 10-15 years old.
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I agree. When I travel to Minnesota I purposely look at the lower portion of the panels. There’s always rust peeking around, and often worse. I pointed it out to my wife last year and she about freaked.

Another time we were thinking of buying a low mileage Excursion. We weren’t local so we had a PPI done. The guy called me and said, “by no means buy this thing, it has been up by the Great Lakes and is total rust.” They we’re asking $10K
 
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JMT said:
Maybe they’re not rust prone. Maybe they just get treated like a Jeep. And if you add salt to that equation it can get really bad really fast.
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I live where winter is winter, snow is snow, and salt is friggin' salt. Those never change around here and is probably what caused your Minnesota and Great Lakes experiences.

Unfortunately Jeeps, both the old CJs and Wranglers, even those that never go off road, get rusty before any other vehicles.

For example, in our family we have a 17 yr old Cavalier beater that's been outside for the 6 years we've had it. While not my favorite vehicle, the missing rocker panels on the Cavalier are much harder to notice than the front fenders on the typical Jeep around here. And yes, there is some serious rust on the "frame" of the Cavalier but the suspension isn't close to ripping the frame apart.

As for frames, Toyota did have some major rust issues on some trucks. They stood up to the problem, recalled and replaced a huge number of them. Other than Toyota, Jeep is the only company with multiple frame rust problems.
 
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Seems like the newer Wranglers aren't as reliable as the older ones. I blame that on the addition of all the electronics and other B.S.
 
JEEPCJTJ said:
I live where winter is winter, snow is snow, and salt is friggin' salt. Those never change around here and is probably what caused your Minnesota and Great Lakes experiences.

Unfortunately Jeeps, both the old CJs and Wranglers, even those that never go off road, get rusty before any other vehicles.

For example, in our family we have a 17 yr old Cavalier beater that's been outside for the 6 years we've had it. While not my favorite vehicle, the missing rocker panels on the Cavalier are much harder to notice than the front fenders on the typical Jeep around here. And yes, there is some serious rust on the "frame" of the Cavalier but the suspension isn't close to ripping the frame apart.

As for frames, Toyota did have some major rust issues on some trucks. They stood up to the problem, recalled and replaced a huge number of them. Other than Toyota, Jeep is the only company with multiple frame rust problems.
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I’m wondering if you think USE also plays a role in both Toyota and Jeep’s apparent sub-standard rust performance.
 
That was one good plus for open rail frames...they didn't trap debris that rots the frame from the inside out on box design frames. I also don't like the fact that my 2001 Sport came from the factory with a 0331 cylinder head :>( Ha!
 
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Wanted one for as long as I can remember. My wife found one at a used car dealership in Louisiana. A southern Jeep never flooded and no rust. 05 Wrangler Unlimited automatic Patriot Blue 137K. Bought in Feb 2018 and drove until the dreaded PCM failure. Working on that now. I cant drive it now but I will be working on it to get it ready for the new computer.
 
My 05 TJ started rusting at the bottom edge of the frame where the skid plate bolts up. I find it hard to believe that they have been building Jeeps for all these years and have not figured out ways to drain and rinse the inside of the frame where this is happening! After the repairs are done, you can bet your sweet bippie there will be drain holes put in so I can rinse the crap out of there especially in the winter!!! It has been rust proofed twice since I've had it and now this is happening. Whoever designed the frames should be tied behind the barn and have dung thrown at them!!
 
JMT said:
I’m wondering if you think USE also plays a role in both Toyota and Jeep’s apparent sub-standard rust performance.
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I'd say around here the only use that causes rust is driving in the winter.

Less than 25% of Wranglers near me were ever off road. The Toyota trucks are off road even less and hardly ever used to haul anything but groceries. They both seem to be out there every day with all the other vehicles, regardless of the weather.

After typing that, I have to say I'm not really sure how much the Toyota truck bodies rust, probably similar to other trucks because if there were major nasty holes I think I could picture it.
 
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This is my first Jeep and so far I'm impressed with the quality. Obviously the frames rusting out because of the poor design is a major issue but other than that when I compare it to other vehicles I've had I think its held up extremely well. I know this thing was beat up on the trail before it got to me, lived its life in northern Wisconsin so plenty of salt, and was not maintained. However by the time it got to me it still only required the common repairs...u joints, ball joints, etc. After putting in a little work it's got a new lease on life! And this is after 21 years of abuse! I dont think any vehicle I've had previously would have made it after those first 20 years if treated like that.So the quality on a TJ I'd say is great. Family members have had Cherokees and Libertys and had many problems so the quality might not extend much passed the Wranglers and probably not much passed 2006.
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator
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