What's gone wrong, the question should be what hasn't? This piece of junk has spent more time in the repair bay than on the road.
The third month I had it the catalytic converter went (warranty), then the seats, then the manifold, then I started losing power. This was all under warranty and about the first six months.
Then all hell broke loose:
The radiator went three times.
The manifold went again.
The oil pressure sending units went 3 times.
The 4wd drive wouldn't engage right.
The fan clutch.
The water pump.
The temp gone twice.
Then the housing unit went.
The list goes on and on.
I bought the car because I always wanted one, now it's my worst nightmare. Every 6 months it costs me between 600 to a grand and the dealer always tells me the same old story "these things just happen". Rubbish, this is the biggest piece of crap I've ever owned. I've had 4 techs. tell me to dump it, the car is that bad.
I work at a dealer now and tell everyone who asks what I think of Jeep.
IT'S THE BIGGEST WASTE OF YOUR MONEY. CHRYSLER DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS.
If you want a Jeep, go and buy a model kit, it will last longer.
I'm trading it in and I'm glad to be rid of this piece of crap.
I'm in TOTAL agreement. I purchased my 97 Jeep Wrangler thinking I got my dream vehicle, instead - I got my worst nightmare.
I agree with you when you commented that it's not what went wrong with the Jeep but moreover what didn't go wrong with it.
The following all broke within 6 months of my purchasing the vehicle.
Let's see, where to start?
1) First, one of the oxygen sensors went.
2) Two weeks later, the other oxygen sensor went.
3) The wiring for the side lights on the Jeep had gone bad and had to be replaced.
I did not get an extended warranty so the following cost me plenty; each went on the vehicle just under the 55,000 mile marker.
4) Distributer went smack in the middle of West Virginia on my way home from my mother's funeral in Florida; I was traveling alone back to New York
It was some "festival" weekend out there and each night I had to stay at the rinky-dink hotel cost me $79.00 plus tax that on any other weekend would normally cost $25.00 a night. The Jeep dealership would not assist me until the Tuesday following their festival weekend - I broke down on a Thursday around 4:00 am. It was Friday morning that I got cab to the Jeep dealer only to be told - "can't do anything for you until Tuesday, we're booked". This meant they would not even look to see what was wrong with my Jeep.
A little mom-and-pops shop looked at my Jeep and told me what was wrong with it. They also told me that a distributer should be good for the life of the car/vehicle and couldn't believe the piece of junk that was standard in a Jeep less than a year old.
I went back to the Jeep dealer and asked if they could order the distributer for me because "of course" there were no parts for a Jeep 97 Wrangler. They would not even pick up the phone to check past their own back yard to try to get the part for me. They said that they don't know where to get one because the one or two places they called in the state of "Virginia" didn't carry them yet. What kind of crap was that???
Well the kind people at this little repair shop spent over 4 hours on the phone (long-distance) trying to located a dealership that carried a distributer for a 97 Jeep. Finally they got a place and it was delivered Saturday. The shop repair man put it in for me and couldn't believe how negligent the Jeep dealership was in not even trying to help. I finally headed home Saturday afternoon and it only cost me over $600.00 for a new distributer/labor, 3 nights hotel Thurs, Fri, and Saturday, cab fair, treating people to lunch at the repair shop, paying for long distance calls, with not so much as an apology from the manufacturer when I called to complain after I returned to New York. After numerous phone calls, they finally agreed to cover the cost of the distributer (warranty was out but the distributer should have never gone that quickly - it was a piece of crap) - they would not cover anything else. I got reimbursed a WHOPPING $189.00 out of the entire ordeal. Since that time, these are the other things that went wrong with it within the year of purchasing the Jeep:
5) Radiator ($400.00 before tax).
6) Speakers/speaker wires.
7) Some kind of rods or something that hold the engine up.
8) Oil and transmission leaks.
9) Paint started peeling off the mirrors almost immediately and rust started forming under the Jeep within months of getting the heap - I mean Jeep.
More recently:
10) Wiper motor went ($200.00 before tax).
11) Starter just went ($149.00).
Parts and accessories have been available for the Jeep Wrangler 98, 99, 00 that were STILL not available for the '97 Jeep. I wanted to get a hard top for my Jeep shortly after I bought it and was told that they don't make them yet. The 98 hardtops were out and they still didn't have it for the 97 jeep. To date - trying to get parts for a 97 is insanely difficult and expensive while there's no problem getting parts for 98+++ models. What's up with that?? It's like they made the 97 Jeep Wrangler the guinea pig for the new Jeeps and didn't care, still don't, about all the 97 Jeep owners who are still paying out the ass for their mistakes.
There's other stuff that went on it but quite frankly I getting sick to my stomach right about now thinking of all the money I had to put into a "new" vehicle. I do the same thing as you do... I would NEVER recommend a Chrysler product to anyone - Jeeps in particular.
OH >>> and let's not forget the gas guzzling and 5mph up a 45 degree incline, otherwise watch the temperature guage go up in RED.
You have 4 cylinder Jeep, what do you expect, you pay cheap, you get cheap. What you should do is save your pennies and get a Sport or Sahara, something with a real motor in it. The Jeep is the only vehicle from Chrysler that usually doesn't have problems. I own a Sport and it is a terrific vehicle, you just got a lemon.
I own a 1997 SE edition. A 4 cylinder. I bought it brand spanking new in June of 1996. I have just experienced my first problem- an oil pressure sending unit. I too have experienced the mirror paint peeling off for the last year. If you ask me, I am very happy with my Jeep. It has taken the abuse of a 4" lift and 33" tires quite well. Not to mention the numerous hours spent on trails and ripping through muddy fields. Sounds to me like you got a lemon for sure.
You bought the 4cyl, automatic. this is the worst combo. Buy an I-6 next time with a 5-speed.
If your reply was in reference to the 4 cylinder with the 33" tires- it's a 5 speed manual. As far as the 4 banger- I bought it before the 6 cylinder models were even offered. But it's all good. There's an LT-1 sitting in my garage waiting on some parts from advance adapters. Thought about getting the supercharger from Rimmer- but hey I love my Jeep so I might as well go all out. See your 6 cylinders on the trails...
I have to agree with everyone else that you got a Lemon for sure. I own a 97' Sport I-6 and I have not had a single problem until now.
The problems I have had have been caused by me. I have 1" Body Lift and 4" Suspension with 33x12 Swampers. I hit a cut down tree very hard while mudding and bent the exhaust. To my surprise the Axles (Dana 30/35Cs) are still intact, have not found a way to break them yet.
The other was the clockspring, I left the top off for 2 weeks... and well...constant rain took the clockspring away.
The jeep has 88k miles on it now. With the abuse I give it and the mammoth amount of mileage... I have to say this is one reliable vehicle. I love Jeeps (Willies, CJ, YJ, TJ, Wranglers), a great american symbol.
I disagree with your comments, I am the proud owner of a 97 Jeep Renegade 4L 6 cylinder 5 speed, it is by far the toughest vehicle I have ever owned - it kicks on and off road and has made such an impression on my friends that three have bought one.
I haven't had a single problem with it and my only complaint would be the fuel consumption which is a small price to pay for a vehicle that is so much fun to drive.
Damon.
Brisbane, Australia.
To all of you who think the 6cyl/5 spd combo is the greatest thing since sliced bread:
1997 Wrangler Sport bought new. Two days after I took delivery the transmission began to leak. A few months later the gas tank had to be replaced. It continued to snowball into: leaky passenger compartment (AC evaporator dripped through firewall), broken manifold, broken catalytic converter, a seeping steering gearbox, fuel level sending unit (I've run out of gas several times though the gauge reads 1/4 full), driver seat tilt broke, fading fender flares, and my most recent problem... a very poorly designed radiator that has been leaking for the past year is finally about to give up the ghost.
I love owning a Jeep. It is tough and as rugged as they get. But in 1997 Jeep put out a ton of lemons. And I was lucky enough to buy one.
I hope it was because 97 was a transition year for the Wrangler (in that it was the first year for the TJ). I would like to own another Jeep, but not any time soon.
I have nothing but good things to say about Wranglers and Jeeps in general. I love my Jeep. My 1997 Sport (6-cyl. engine) has not ONCE given me any problems. It's by far the best car I've owned.
My guess is that the horror stories I'm reading here, with endless repair bills and headaches, are just freak incidents, or maybe even embellishments (one guy said he spend $600-$1000 a month?? Why would someone continue doing that?).
Every car has these freak stories. I know a woman that bought a brand new Toyota Camry that had countless problems right away, including a transmission replacement. Her horror story was the same as the ones on this forum. But the Camry is without question a great car. If I heard ten stories like my friend's, it still wouldn't convince me that the Camry is a piece of junk, and this is coming from a Jeep fan.
As for the idea that the 6-cyl. is better than the 4-cyl., I owned a 1990 Wrangler with the 4-cyl. and it was just as bullet proof as my current Jeep. One thing that I have heard many times is that the automatic transmission on Wranglers is a waste, and is only offered for the sake of offering it. Most folks want a manual on a "real" 4x4 (?) If that's true, it would be a pity. I would hate to think that Jeep would create anything with that mentality.
Several members of my family own various Jeep models, and the only bad story was a 1987 Comanche, which had many trips to the mechanic. But then again, this truck had been in two wrecks before it was bought used.
I strongly feel that Jeeps are built rock-solid. I feel for these folks who've had such horrible luck with theirs, but I wouldn't say Wranglers are like this in general. All the Jeeps I've driven have been superb.
My buddy read an article about lemons in general that you might find amusing. He read that when you buy a car, new or used, check with Carfax which day of the week it was built. Apparently, the best cars are built on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The idea is that on Fridays the crew at an automobile plant looks forward to getting off work, so they cut corners, they do a half-hearted job. And on Mondays, they just got back from the weekend and are tired and groaning about getting back into the work week, and do an equally half-decent job.
It sounds corny, but according to the article, a majority of lemons (severe cases like the ones on this forum) of any car are built on Monday or Friday. I can believe it, considering how our psychology can weave it way into our productivity in a million ways.
Lynny.
I have nothing but good things to say about Wranglers and Jeeps in general. I love my Jeep. My 1997 Sport (6-cyl. engine) has not ONCE given me any problems. It's by far the best car I've owned.
My guess is that the horror stories I'm reading here, with endless repair bills and headaches, are just freak incidents, or maybe even embellishments (one guy said he spend $600-$1000 a month?? Why would someone continue doing that?).
Every car has these freak stories. I know a woman that bought a brand new Toyota Camry that had countless problems right away, including a transmission replacement. Her horror story was the same as the ones on this forum. But the Camry is without question a great car. If I heard ten stories like my friend's, it still wouldn't convince me that the Camry is a piece of junk, and this is coming from a Jeep fan.
As for the idea that the 6-cyl. is better than the 4-cyl., I owned a 1990 Wrangler with the 4-cyl. and it was just as bullet proof as my current Jeep. One thing that I have heard many times is that the automatic transmission on Wranglers is a waste, and is only offered for the sake of offering it. Most folks want a manual on a "real" 4x4 (?) If that's true, it would be a pity. I would hate to think that Jeep would create anything with that mentality.
Several members of my family own various Jeep models, and the only bad story was a 1987 Comanche, which had many trips to the mechanic. But then again, this truck had been in two wrecks before it was bought used.
I strongly feel that Jeeps are built rock-solid. I feel for these folks who've had such horrible luck with theirs, but I wouldn't say Wranglers are like this in general. All the Jeeps I've driven have been superb.
My buddy read an article about lemons in general that you might find amusing. He read that when you buy a car, new or used, check with Carfax which day of the week it was built. Apparently, the best cars are built on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The idea is that on Fridays the crew at an automobile plant looks forward to getting off work, so they cut corners, they do a half-hearted job. And on Mondays, they just got back from the weekend and are tired and groaning about getting back into the work week, and do an equally half-decent job.
It sounds corny, but according to the article, a majority of lemons (severe cases like the ones on this forum) of any car are built on Monday or Friday. I can believe it, considering how our psychology can weave it way into our productivity in a million ways.
Lynny.
A jeep was always my dream vehicle, but now after a year of ownership it's the biggest nightmare of my life! It's just not reliable despite my best efforts at preventative maintenance, it does stop the seals from going out and the manifolds for busting the bolts off in the head. Run away from this vehicle. Run!
I have a 98 tj with the 4 banger and a 4" suspension lift, 3" body lift, 33" tsl's, almost any kind of accessory imaginable, 4.56 gears, header, accel ignition, mod chip (waste of money), throttle body spacer, k&n air filter, port and polished shaved head and a stage 3 camshaft. The only problem I find is that it doesn't have enough power on the highway (70 MPH) and of all the times I've gone out with my buddies with their 40" tires I've never broke down. I have only blown an alternator, starter, had to get my front drive shaft rebuilt ($30) and just now took out a oil pressure sending unit. Which I thought was most excellent considering the mud I have been in and that it is a new vehicle. I plan on selling it right away and buying a 4.0 with dana 44's 35" boggers and a supercharger. Thanks, Derrick from Canada (yes I knew office glen).
I have 2 jeeps a 1995 jeep Cherokee and a jeep wrangler and I haven't had any problems with them one has 165,000
miles and I have gone to Mexico three times in it the other jeep wrangler I have gone ones no problems either I bought the wrangler with 40,000 miles and I have 60,000 on it right now I hasn't given me any problems either what I think is that jeep is the best thing out there.
I have a 97 Wrangler SE. I had problems with it not long after I purchased it in 98. It had 13,000 miles on it and was slightly used. The exhaust manifold bolts broke several times, but was a different one each time. Jeep always replace them and after the 3rd one broke, I called Jeep. They said they knew this was a problem and the warranty was extended to 80,000 for this problem. My catalytic converter has gone bad 3 times. Even though each of these situations was an inconvenience, taking it to the dealership for repair, I still love my Jeep and glad I bought it. I am now looking at trying to get into a Jeep club close by me to start trail rides.
I own a 97 Jeep Wrangler Sport.
I have had some problems.
1) Mirrors with paint peeling off.
2) Water leaking into passenger side.
3) Oxygen Sensor
4) Starter
5) Temperamental turn signal lever (sometimes it just doesn't want to move)
6) Front & Rear Differentials (small leaks in both)
7) Passenger side door lock stuck. Took some grease in the right spot to fix it
8) Fuel Gage not right (fixed and still not right). Thankfully it says I'm empty before I am.
9) Right and Left Stabilizer Links.
Sounds like a nightmare, but I love my Jeep and at 123,000 miles it still doesn't look old. It's only left me stranded once (starter under warranty). Of the 123,000 probably 50,000 miles were spent driving some of worst roads in the world (New York City) and it has held up well. Easy to park and fun to drive. Looking to get 200,000 out of mine.