Faults:

My family has owned this Jeep for about ten years, and I can't recall a time when it failed to start.

The leaf springs in the rear have de-arched over time to the point where the rear end feels like it's resting on blocks. I replaced the radiator two years ago. The tape deck quit working shortly after we bought the thing. The rocker panels are long gone now from rust. The cruise control and air conditioning have failed. Routine things have been replaced like stabilizer shock and muffler. The gas tank was replaced after I became tired of patching it and re-patching it. I replaced the water pump once.

The one problem that really bugs me is the brakes. Specifically the master cylinder. I've replaced it twice. It seems there is nothing that can be done to firm things up. Step on the brakes on an icy surface and the front discs lock up while the rear drums keep right on turning. I've heard the same thing from other Jeep owners. I don't consider it a really dangerous problem, just really annoying.

Oh yeah, the right rear door handle broke on the outside.

General Comments:

This car has plenty of noise and vibration from it's 2.5, which is surprisingly slow. However, it's pretty easy on the gas.

When you change the plugs on the 2.5, you must remove the air conditioning compressor to access the first plug.

It has a short wheelbase which is nice teamed with 4 wheel drive when you want to explore logging roads.

Our Jeep has a good amount of options. One of my favorites is the front passenger seat. It has a unique reclining swivel that I didn't discover until years after we bought it.

My brother is currently driving the Jeep. It's showing age, but he still really likes it.

Faults:

The brakes had to be replaced when I bought it.

The rockerfeller's were completely gone, but I repaired them myself.

General Comments:

Leather seating is very comfortable.

The engine has never had any problems, very powerful for what it is.

Faults:

Always ran warm or hot.

Replaced water pump at 90,000 miles and again at 165,000 (may not have needed it though).

Due to what was poor performance I replaced a fuel injector - turned out it was the catalytic converter.

Front window power steering wires kept coming loose from repeated door shutting.

Replaced power brake booster and master cylinder at 170,000 miles.

Power steering high pressure hose leaked - never did fix it, though.

Rear door hydraulics went at about 170,000 - never replaced them, though.

Lights in the radio went out and never could see what station I had on.

Replaced starter at about 150,000 miles and alternator at about 180,000 miles.

General Comments:

Best vehicles I've ever owned. I put 115,000 miles on it and many were stop and go miles while I delivered pizzas for 2 years in snow country. Four wheel drive was a real blessing.

I took this vehicle to places I should probably never been by myself, but it was very, very reliable.

I liked it to the extent that I had to got another 1989 in better shape (but with 227,000 miles) and did some replacing of some items and have just donated the old one to a charity organization. LOVE MY JEEP!

Faults:

The shifter solenoids have quit working twice in the transmission. I had the transmission and the transfer case rebuilt one year ago and the shifter solenoids went again; and finally the muffler got so hot it caught the undercoating on fire and it burnt the carpet on the interior.

General Comments:

I would not buy another jeep if it was the only vehicle on the market as it is prone to too many problems, big and small.