For those that trust your Jeep, how did you get there?

[lBasket]

It seems like everyone broke something or bent a panel. I started showing my wife the photos and videos and she got a funny look.

My brother has a dealers license and his Jeep is a repaired salvage. I may have him look for something built up but pre rolled before I hang out with you guys.

Confirmation bias.. nobody posts to say they didn't break shit

 

[TheBoogieman]

I bought mine from the original owner who kept every service record from day one. I trust mine mainly because I keep the needed gear for emergency situations.

 

[WV Native]

Bought mine new in 2003. I’ve performed traditional maintenance for the past 22 years.

It’s got about 157,000 on the clock and I’d drive it to the moon and back.

Mine has been very reliable for the most part.

 

[JKP]

I bought my jeep (2006, 4.0 Auto) with 109,500 miles on it in February

The oil pump imploded and destroyed the engine - got towed home by AAA. New engine fitted
Then the transmission pump seal failed (we think) and sprayed ATF everywhere - got towed home by AAA. New Transmission and cooler fitted
Then a transmission hose failed and sprayed ATF everywhere - got towed home by AAA. Hoses fixed

it now has 110,600 on it. Yes all the above happened within 1,000 miles!

Love this thing, and how I feel when driving it, but I want to take it on a camping trip this weekend (100 miles each way) and my faith in it getting me there and back is wavering. It's done about 150 miles since the last issue and all going well....but at the back of my mind is the niggling thought that it's going to leave me abandoned again. How do you build trust in something that has let you down catastrophically 3 times in the last 4 months?

The Oil Pump Drive Assembly is a known 05, 06 issue. If it seizes, you lose oil pressure and if you don't shut it down, you lose the engine. Obviously, the PO didn't replace it with an improved aftermarket version.

Can't help you with the AT, mine's a MT.

The 05, 06 PCMs are going to fail. Symptoms are shutting off while driving, gauges dropping out, O2 codes, hard shifts in the AT. Only known fix is a rehosted PCM from wranglerfix.

Having said all that, I have 283,000 mi on my 06. Replaced the OPDA before it failed. Replaced the PCM when it began acting up. Clutch replaced at about 270,000. Original owner and kept up the maintenance. Drive it 5 to 6 hrs from GA to TN regularly.

I would change the diff fluid and Tcase fluid if you haven't. That way you have a baseline on everything.

 

[macleanflood]

Confirmation bias.. nobody posts to say they didn't break shit

Uh...no...

-Mac

 

[Larry L TJ]

I bought my 04 May 5th, 2025. Have worked on it just about every day since. Had start issues several times. been hauled home twice. In the last 6 weeks I was very skittish every time I left in it. I replaced the Crank position sensor with an NGK last Saturday 7th. So far, I am about 70 starts and not been stranded. (knock on wood). I drove a round trip today of 160.4 miles with several stops from Dalton Ga to Murphy N.C . Uphill both ways. Jeep did great. Got 16.1 MPG. I feel very confident for a longer trip now. I will carry a spare Crank position sensor. and IAC and A TPS sensor and several fuses and relays that I currently am carrying.

 

[Irun]

This is one of the reasons I've learned to do my own work. Nobody will care more about your vehicle, and its reliability, than you. When I've had to resort to paying someone else, I've never been satisfied with their work. I'm not saying good people aren't out there but finding them is like panning for gold. You dream about success but live with disappointment. I persisted through a couple builds with fixing issue after issue, which resulted from previous owner neglect or a lack of knowledge. While I wanted to quit many times, that wasn't in me. Once I got things sorted out, they were 100% reliable and a joy to drive!

 

[lBasket]

Uh...no...

-Mac

What're you no-ing me about?

 

[lBasket]

This is one of the reasons I've learned to do my own work. Nobody will care more about your vehicle, and its reliability, than you. When I've had to resort to paying someone else, I've never been satisfied with their work. I'm not saying good people aren't out there but finding them is like panning for gold. You dream about success but live with disappointment. I persisted through a couple builds with fixing issue after issue, which resulted from previous owner neglect or a lack of knowledge. While I wanted to quit many times, that wasn't in me. Once I got things sorted out, they were 100% reliable and a joy to drive!

I always like to think "doesn't know, does care does a better job than knows and doesn't care". And I can't afford "knows and cares"

 

[macleanflood]

What're you no-ing me about?

 

[lBasket]

View attachment 624400

but that's you posting to say you did break shit

 

[PG.]

I got my 97 TJ sport in 1998. Still drive it to trails and back most of the time. It’s definitely given me grief at times but wouldn’t change anything and no thoughts on getting ride of it. I just usually hope for the best with it. Oh and Maintenance goes a long way. Pay a little now or a lot later.

 

[Woodrow]

It seems like everyone broke something or bent a panel. I started showing my wife the photos and videos and she got a funny look.

My brother has a dealers license and his Jeep is a repaired salvage. I may have him look for something built up but pre rolled before I hang out with you guys.

I daily mine and trust it completely. And although I’d like to think I wheel it hard, I built it and maintain it so that it’s up to the task. My trust doesn’t mean I think it won’t break. It will. But when it does, I can and will fix it. I also know for sure many of the folks at this May’s Moab outing feel the same way. Look at @JMT ‘s rig. It’s been rolled twice and that’s no beater. Or @NashvilleTJ ‘s beauty. It’s been upside down in a hot tub and looks great and dominates the trail. Still, I have to admit we did have a lot of Jeeps on their sides this year

 

[bucky]

I got my 05 TJRU 6sp with 112k a couple of yrs ago. When I went to PO’s house to look at it I could tell by the look of his garage that he took good care of his shit. He also gave me a detailed history of it. The good and the bad.
It’s just a toy for me and I’ve put 2K miles on it, 90% on trails. In the time I’ve had it all thats been done are oil change, plugs, injectors, fuel rail heat shield, radiator cap and I put the OEM air box back on which the PO still had. My fuel pump went out in Feb. luckily it died while I was driving in my shop’s lot. OPDA was replaced by PO under recall.
I have no qualms driving it anywhere. I’ve taken several 400 mile trips in the desert and mountains most pulling my teardrop trailer. I do crawl under it before and after a run to check if I can see any issues.
Unfortunately you seem to have had some really bad luck.
Trust is easy to lose and hard to gain back.

 

[chili_pepper]

We have fun for all levels.

 

[JMT]

@twisted-pixel.

As @Woodrow said about his, I’m fully confident. I’d drive it around the country without thinking twice. I wouldn’t hesitate, except to say it wouldn’t be that comfortable. Get on top of the maintenance. Go over every bolt. Go over the wires and especially grounds. Do steering test, ball joint test. Fix everything that’s not perfect. Change all fluids. Then you can move forward. At that point it’s not your fault. Things just get old and go wrong, but the good news is by that point you’ll know the rig and can fix it no problem.

Best of luck!

 

[Pantera99]

Bought my '02 in '12 mainly because she had 71k miles. Everything listed from AZ always has a billion miles on them. 1st trip across town on the highway all the sudden coolant is coming up the hood all over the windshield, temp gauge immediately red, immediately pull over, towed home.
Then not much later persistent #2 injector circuit code, did all remanufactured 4 hole Bosch injectors not realizing they weren't the problem but whatever, newer better injectors. Still getting the code, engine shaking blowing smoke. So new injector connector, changed nothing. Finally tracked down a short in the wiring by the firewall where they sit on the back of the engine.
Was pretty annoyed by this point, but all has been great since, 155k miles, daily driver currently.

 

[OffroadTreks]

You seem to have very bad luck. The 4.0 engine is arguably one of the most reliable engines ever made.

Most likely you bought your TJ from someone who didn't take very good care of it. It's a combination of that and whoever is doing the work (installing the new engine, etc.) is clearly not a very good mechanic.

These engines can go half-a-million miles before needed a rebuild.

This is like the #1 reason I decided to buy a TJ.

 

[tr21triton]

I bought mine from the original owner who kept every service record from day one. I trust mine mainly because I keep the needed gear for emergency situations.
View attachment 624350
View attachment 624352

Y'all be careful, @Zorba done hacked BOOGIE'S account !!!

 

[bucky]

I think out TJs are as reliable as any 20+ year old Mopar product.