1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer from North America - Comments

Automatic door locks don't lock all the doors, sometimes don't even unlock or lock tho they 'try'.

Gas gauge always reads 'full'.

Tailgate 'catches' only on left side.

Fog lamps long ago rusted out.

Rear wiper has no place to 'press' against when the rear window is down.

Rear window gets 'caught' sometimes half way down.

Retaining metal for gas tank rusted through, almost lost tank if not for a conscientious mechanic.

Put $800 dollars repair and labor into rear brakes, only to have the FRONT brakes fail shortly after.

Sometimes will NOT start in Park. Must jiggle the shift lever... forcefully or start in neutral.

Is currently leaking oil, but unable to determine where.

Massive car compared to what I am familiar with; a Volvo wagon. Even though of the approximate same technology era as the 240's, the differences are disturbing.

Yes it does have power, height, and a road presence unlike anything I have ever driven. But the brakes must, MUST be comparable to the power and mass of the vehicle AND its purpose/uses. At 85,000 miles the front brakes failed, pulling a 1500 lb camper, (two adults three kids and a dog inside) before we even got out of our home town! We switched camper and kids to a 210,000 mile Volvo 240 wagon for the rest of our 3000 mile trip WITHOUT PROBLEM.

The kids complain about the stiffness of the ride though they love the roominess inside! At highway speeds the ride smooths out a lot.

All the little problems are frustrating.

I have had just the opposite experience with my 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I drive it daily with close to 83,000 miles on it. It always starts right up, admittedly sometimes I have to give it a little gas to get it cranked up. Suprisingly, it doesn't drip oil. I look every morning and at work I back into my spot so I can tell if I am dripping yet.

My favorite thing about the car is its road presence. It weighs over 6000 pounds so I feel very safe in it, afterall its pure metal (even has real metal bumpers). Two years ago I was driving a BMW 330i convertible (paid over 40K dollars for it), but I have gotten rid of it and replaced it with a 1987 maroon Grand Wagoneer (cost? $6000). Every Friday my kids argue over who gets to sit in the front seat in the middle next to Dad (me). After my wife and I make it through dinner with 2-4 of our kids, we go 4-wheeling. What a blast, I hope the cops don't catch us becuase sometimes we go on some city owned property. Up hills, down hills, going in between trees, driving through up to two feet of water.

Bottom Line: "PRICELESS"

If you don't like your Jeep sell it to someone who will give it a good home. These cars will be the collectible SUV's in the future. I hope to leave mine to a grand kid that will take care of it, if I ever have a grand kid.

Was it King David who said: "...a wise man leaves an inheritance to his children's children..."

I agree with you totally. PRICELESS these trucks are... so much so that I have two of them. I bought both from auctions. The first I bought for $1500.00 and it was in excellent condition. The second I bought for $1200.00 and it was actually a "junk" title. My uncle replaced some part on it and it passed smog and I got the title revived so that I could drive it. I am currently working on restoring the first one I bought. I am having everything under the hood replaced and the entire interior re-done. I suspect that the first one will be complete by the beginning of summer 2005. The second one I will start on when the first one is complete. My oldest son does not like these trucks so I plan on leaving it to my youngest son who loves the ride and the big "awesome" trucks that mommy drives. I would not trade them for anything in the world.

My Jeeps... PRICELESS!

I have owned both a 1991 240 Volvo which I sold and my 1990 Grand Wagoneer. As far as comparing the two it would be like comparing Apple and an orange. The 240 is no SUV by no way shape or form. It is a city car and is where it needs to stay. It was just OK. It had the same type of problems most cars do after 100 thousand miles. Starter need replaced. The a/c unit need major work $380.00 average I am told for these cars when the problem occurs. The front passenger seat broke from the plastic parts used to recline it. The heated seats was always blowing fuse and the plastic interior such as the dash and door handles and door panels all cracked over time. There was a major squeal that sounded as if it was coming from the odometer, but after $275.00 was told that it was not the odometer, but from something with the overdrive. No one was ever able to fix it at Volvo. One major problem that is common to the 240 Volvo that not a lot of people know about is the metal transmission line under the car. It has a habit of rubbing on the mount which holds it in place and rubbing a hold in the line. Thus causing a major transmission fluid leak. This is a major problem not only money wise to fix, but also very dangerous. Still the same standard maintenance as with all cars. The exterior paint had in no way stood up. The dark navy paint was dull and did not retain its shine so it had to be polished quite often in order to have a sheen. Not to mention that it really only seated four people and only the two in the front seat were the only comfortable ones. I sold this car after 130,000 miles and was so glad to do and got top dollar for it as to what it was worth. $3000.00 I had to have work done prior to the auto in order for it to pass smog the last year.

Now about the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This is a car that was built to stand the test of time. It is the auto which started the whole SUV craz. It is a high maintenance auto. Understanding that is the first thing that needs to happen. I have a Chiltons repair manual and I can use it my self. I am a 5'2 female and weight 110 pounds. Most people even shop mechanic are amazed that I know my Jeep so well and I am not afraid to work on it my self. (I did the same thing with my Volvo, but there not as excess-able) I had the a/c compressor replaced $210.00 including frezon The seats and the ride is very comfortable in the Jeep. My Grand Wagoneer looks as pretty as the day I bought it and it has all ways sat out side, in the snow and the sun. (The Volvo never sat out side.) I keep it washed and cleaned. It all ways looks polished as it has 12 coats of lacquer on the paint. That's how it came from the factory. I check it over and tighten things as they become loose and replace thing as they may need to be replaced. You do have more brake maintenance as the suv weights over 6000 pounds. That is a lot of breaking power and I purchase the SUV when I lived in the high country. I drove mountain roads everyday. I've even pushed snow up to my fender wells in the back county off road and this baby never hesitated at all. Yes you feel safe because you are safe. I was at a dead stop at a light and a young man in a newer small car wasn't paying attention and rear end me. He really hit me hard, we pulled right into a lot which was right there next to us. He pulled in be hind me to the right. He jumped out of his car and ran to me because he really though I was going to be hurt bad. Not a scratch on me or my car. Those solid metal bumpers really work. He saw I was OK and my car was not damaged at all and he was so happy until I said it's your car you need to worry about. He said you really thing so and I said oh yea. We walked around an took a look at his front end and it was gone. He couldn't even drive it away. If I had been in the Volvo I would have been hurt pretty bad even with it's great rear end collision rating. My Jeep has 180,500 mile on it and It still starts every time as long as you start it according to the owners manual. The first start of the day you push down only three time with a few second hesitation between each push. Then you turn the key on and crank it and you don't stop until it fires and when it fires it starts right away. The rest of the starts that day are simple turn the key and it starts right up. Now that I live in the city I don't drive it much at all, but still when ever I do it starts right up. I have never had a problem getting this car smoged. It has passed with flying colors every time. The engine was replaced at 100,000 miles, but that was because my Jeep was under the extended manufactures warranty. I could feel a problem, but the dealership I purchased it from though I was just a dumb female and they kept telling me it was normal road noise. We went round and round and I document every time I took it in. Within a month of the warranty ending The crank shaft fell out. The dealership told me tuft luck. I said wrong! I contacted one of Chrysler's top dog's and explained every thing. Two of them flew to California from back East to meet with me and they met me at the dealership. That was where my car was towed. After they looked over all my documentation and my car. They stated that if the dealer had serviced and made the proper adjustments as they claimed the problem would not have ocured. Chrysler had my car carried to another town and ordered a brand new created engine for it. Not a rebuilt or a used one a brand spanken new one. When it arrived I was their as well as a representative from Chrysler to open the crate and check the numbers to make sure it wasn't swapped any where alone the line. They paid every penny for the engine and the replacement. Not one cent came out of my pocket. They told me that they built those engines to do 250,000 miles easy and they would provided that they are taken care. They said they stand behind The Grand Wagoneer. Needless to say they weren't too happy with the dealership and pulled their service agreement as I understand it. This SUV was built to last. It still looks good and I still get complements all the time. People are always asking if I want to sell it. I don't want too, but think I may have too. I don't live in the snow any more and I have a commute car and I have another Jeep a smaller wrangler. More suited for the city. Love the Grand Wagoneer.