The fuel pump left me near 110K. I have since learned that I should not have been surprised. A dealer in Maryville, MO took care of it for me for $500. A private mechanic likely would have done it for $350.
The transfer case is leaking slowly and the rear of the transmission has developed a bad leak in the past months. (My oil pan underneath in my garage caught 1.5-qt. in the past 4 days.) It's waiting to get into the local transmission man's shop - NOT A DEALER - for repair. He's promised $300 will take care of it.
Other than that the rear view mirror fell off the past winter. In 40K miles of ownership, that's all I can pinpoint. I'm very content with its reliability.
I held my breath in February of 2000 when I decided I would pay $9700 for a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had almost 98K miles. Having just wrecked my last car and wanting an SUV that was in my price range, I decided to take the plunge.
3 1/2 years later (September 2003), I can honestly say there are fewer decisions I've ever made that make me as happy as buying my Jeep. She's gotten me all over the Midwest like a champ. The body was great when I bought it, and still is. The interior looks new, which is a testament to the the previous owner and my desire to keep it that way.
When talking engines with mechanics and others, I've learned that the 4.0 I-6 is amazingly tough and will stand up to any test I've given it. A college roommate of mine and his father put 200K on a I-6 in an old Cherokee and had to quit driving it when the transmission left at that point. I change my oil when it needs it, depending on the type of driving I've been doing. Simply put, I would strongly consider marrying this engine if it would bring me beer and do the dishes too.
The transmission scares me a little, mostly because of stories I've heard, not that I can tell firsthand. Mine is still strong at 138K, with the only slips coming in the coldest of winter. When (and if) mine goes, a local mechanic has quoted me a price of $800-$1100 to rebuild it with a 12-month, 12,00- warranty. As with any repair, I will trust my Jeep to the 'little guy' who has to keep his reputation in town.
The 4WD is outstanding. Growing up in Iowa and living for years 3 miles from the nearest pavement, we had our fair share of trips in the 1980 Chevy truck to get where we needed to go. I would put the foothold the Jeep gives me on snow up against that any day. It honestly is the most secure I've ever felt on snow and ice in any vehicle I've been in. I have to TRY and break traction in parking lots, etc. when goofing off in snow when it's in 4WD. Even in 2WD in snow the Jeep impresses me.
The driver who put the majority of my Jeep's miles on was a hot-air balloon pilot and traveled across the country a great deal. I also have put plenty of highway miles on my Jeep. I baby it and take care of it as if has to last me a lifetime. Some days I think it could.
Gas mileage is solid, especially when you accelerate slowly and make a conscious effort to save gas. A trip 500 mile trip last weekend yielded me the best mileage I've gotten in my Jeep at 23.4 MPG.
The interior has held up well. Even the driver seat resembles more of a new seat that on that's 10 years old.
Other: Paint is great, no rust at all. Radio was replaced with am aftermarket CD player and speakers too.
I am saddened to report that this Jeep died in an accident on 1-10-05 in Charlotte, NC. It was rear-ended by a GMC at a Sonoma that was going pretty fast (35-40 MPH??). The Jeep held up well, though it still is a complete loss. I am very sad to see it go. I'd just rebuilt the tranny at 142K. The engine was still great and everything else seemed intact. I was hoping to hit 200K with her, but had to say goodbye at 146,416. As testament to my love of this type of Jeep, two days after the wreck I'm looking at a similar vehicle. Long live the Jeep!
I hope mine can hold out that long too, I only have enough money right now to do preventative maintenance on it. I too have heard that I-6's run VERY well and for a LONG time. I remember reading a few places that a couple people have broken 300,000 miles and the engine was STILL running like a champ. They even joke about it... saying that: "It's just getting broken in". I thought it was pretty funny. Well... sorry to hear about that wreck... get another Jeep though. Long Live the Jeep!
I hit 2000,000 miles just as I pulled into my drive-way on January 6, 2007 at 6:13PM. What a great vehicle. I purchased this Jeep (my first of three) with 55,000 miles. I give it a lot of TLC, new brakes and tires every spring, oil changes every 3,000 etc. My Jeep is now at 208,000 miles and climbing.
Everything, with the exception of the radiator and battery is original. My Jeep has no rust anywhere. What a great vehicle.
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