Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability After 2 Years and 86,000 Miles

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 07/15/2017 at 19:19 • Filed to: Updates

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Reliability has been...how do I put this....exceptional! Even a Lexus RX would blush so far. If this WK2 were my uncle it would be the one that worked. And the maintenance! I’m no mermaid so I don’t math too well, but you don’t need algae bra in order to tell this thing has been pretty darn cheap to run!

I purchased the WK2 in August 2015 with 34,000 miles and we are now halfway through July 2017 with 120,000 miles. No repairs and only one recall to replace sun visors since they could catch fire. FYI, “Catch Fire,” appears in 90% of FCA recalls. Upkeep has cost me just about $2,700 which includes four $200 tires and installation, 14 oil changes, some cheap filters, wiper blades, rear driver’s side turn signal bulb, spark plugs, and windsheild replacement.

Notable Upkeep

Im doing spark plugs every 60,000 miles instead of the recommended 30,000 miles.

I got my quartet of Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires when the WK2 had 43,000 miles on it and they will need to be replaced before 130,000 miles from the looks of it. That means I’ll have driven well over 80,000 miles on them. The original factory Michelin Latitude Tours did half that mileage with the original owner.

Botherances

There is a spot around the top of the rear window that allowed water to run into the headliner inside the trunk.

Durability is pretty low as far as body, panel, and paint integrity.

Cruise control enabling and keyfob recognition have about an 85% chance of working, but that probability is very noticeable when you drive a lot and enter/exit/turn on your vehicle over 12 times a day.

Would I Recommend or Buy Again?

Yes and yes! But I think the 2012 and 2013 model years were the best from this generation as far as ease of use and ownership. I’d buy any Grand Cherokee again to replace this one, I’m sold on the entire model line right now, even the unreliable ones.

Mine is a RWD 2012 Laredo X with the 5.7L, which I decided would be the most reliable, simplest, and best value for what I needed. Plus V8, RWD (excessive highway driving in the desert), and a 6-speed with a ghost’d 3rd gear upshift. This is dead on my spec, features, and value.

Life Expectancy

Im going to replace all fluids and get it throughly inspected by the dealer since it’s 6 years old and I notice more issues occur due to the age of vehicles rather than the mileage. I also need to do four tires again, spark plugs, brake pads, and another battery since I’m sure this one is three or more years old. After all that, I’ll take it to 154,000 miles (that should be July 2018) look it over and then go for 196,000 miles (which would be July 2019) if it’s still doing work duty.

I’m hoping to retire it from daily jobbing by 172,000 miles (Winter next year) that way I can just have it around for when I need a crossover. Plan is to keep this and the Amanti as long as possible since I’m doing all cash from here.

Chariotoflove > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 19:49

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Well done! Except for the algae bra bit. You should be shot for that.

CRider > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 19:52

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

You lost me here.

Your boy, BJR > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 20:00

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“Sun visors could catch fire”

MOPAR confirmed.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 20:07

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What do you do? That’s a crap ton of miles.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 20:33

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I want to know how you get a sun visor to spontaneously catch fire.

arl > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 20:55

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Botherances is my new favorite word for things in my car that annoy me.

Great review! Good to hear the Jeep is trucking down the road. I’d still have my 2011 Charger if it hadn’t been for the pesky electrical system going haywire. Loved the 5.7.

E92M3 > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 21:51

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Damn you drive A LOT! If I had to drive 4ok miles a year in Atlanta, I’d kill my...... wait it’s not even possible. Unless I was in the car 12 hrs a day. It can take an hr just to go 5 miles.

P5guy now GTIguy > Wobbles the Mind 07/15/2017 at 21:56

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30k spark plug intervals seems excessive to me for a ‘regular’ car, heck even 60 seems too soon. Do all 5.7 hemis require this?

BigBlock440 > P5guy now GTIguy 07/15/2017 at 22:49

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That’s standard for copper core plugs. If you use the iridum or platinum it’s 100k.

hike > P5guy now GTIguy 07/15/2017 at 23:43

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Yes. The Hemi has a 30k maintenance schedule for plugs. It’s a bit odd for a motor in a new vehicle, but it’s a pretty simple maintenance item.

Takuro Spirit > P5guy now GTIguy 07/16/2017 at 14:47

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Yes, they’re standard copper plugs. What sucks MORE is that there’s SIXTEEN of them that need replacing every 30k.

P5guy now GTIguy > Takuro Spirit 07/16/2017 at 16:08

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16 plugs ?? That’s crazy, I’m guessing FCA chooses that kind for performance right ?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Wobbles the Mind 07/16/2017 at 16:46

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Not having a transfer case is def helping the maintenance outlay. Btw, what kind of mileage do you see with a rwd GC?

James K. > CRider 07/16/2017 at 17:15

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Yeah, anything with a Jeep or Subaru emblem ...should be 4x4 or AWD.

Wobbles the Mind > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 07/16/2017 at 21:17

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For my style of driving, it’s consistently the following:

100% Hwy / 0% Cty = over 21 mpg

90% Hwy / 10% Cty = around 20 mpg

80% Hwy / 20% Cty = over 19 mpg

70% Hwy / 30% Cty = around 18 mpg

60 / 40 = over 17 mpg

50 / 50 = over 16 mpg

40 / 60 = over 15 mpg

30 / 70 = over 14 mpg

Nothing worse than 14 mpg due to the multi-displacement system automatically cutting out 4-cylinders below 2,500 rpm.

Wobbles the Mind > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 07/16/2017 at 21:18

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The wiring for the vanity mirror lights.

Wobbles the Mind > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 07/16/2017 at 21:21

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I work for a premium meat and cheese company that services grocery stores mainly. Sales, merchandising, training, and anything else that pertains to maintaining the integrity of the brand is what I’m responsible for across half of the state.

Wobbles the Mind > CRider 07/16/2017 at 21:26

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I know, just ignore the badge and imagine it’s a tall wagon.

CRider > Wobbles the Mind 07/16/2017 at 21:48

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It’s a Jeep. If there’s one thing that makes a Jeep, it’s a transfer case. One that gets used.

BigBlock440 > P5guy now GTIguy 07/16/2017 at 22:13

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Probably emissions

Wobbles the Mind > CRider 07/16/2017 at 22:14

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Lol, I know, it’s hard on a lot of people. I’m just very uncompromising on my lifestyle so I have to set aside branding when I actually shop. I needed a reliable and cheap to maintain vehicle so went for a Jeep. That’s the part everyone misses.

CRider > Wobbles the Mind 07/16/2017 at 22:17

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You wanted reliable and low maintenance so you went Jeep ? You bought a 2wd Jeep for RELIABILITY? Have you ever even looked at a reliability rating before?

Wobbles the Mind > CRider 07/16/2017 at 22:36

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I know, right?! Crazy...

Nah, I do a lot of research which is why I’m not surprised the reliable vehicle spec I chose has been reliable.

Slant6 > CRider 07/17/2017 at 00:10

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So you’d rather they have a transfer case that doesn’t get used? At least they’re being honest about it and not like most Jeep owners and having 4x4 just to have it.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Wobbles the Mind 07/17/2017 at 01:15

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JGC is a nice ride for so much driving.

CRider > Slant6 07/17/2017 at 02:29

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Well ignoring the fact that he lives in/drives through deserts often and would have plenty of opportunity to use 4x4 if he wanted to, a 4x4 Jeep will have a higher resale value than a 2wd one and as with most off roaders, its life doesn’t really begin until its second or third owner. but come on, it’s a Jeep. You don’t buy them to get good mileage and be cheap to run, you buy them because you want a Jeep . And to me, Jeep implies 4x4, or in the case of the GC, a semi advanced AWD system.

Slant6 > CRider 07/17/2017 at 07:36

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He drives on desert highways, not the desert.

Since he will ultimately put 200k on the vehicle I hardly think resale value will matter, not that non Wrangler jeeps were great at depriciation anyway.

Of all brands to over romanticize you chose Jeep. When I think of Jeep I think cheap and not a sedan. You must love all the Compasses, Renegades, Patriots, and current gen Cherokees.

SgtBeavis > Wobbles the Mind 07/17/2017 at 10:46

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My perception with the GC is that you either get a bad one or an outstanding one. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. I took over my wife’s 2015 GC Limited and I’m not really a fan of it. However it has been bullet proof. We even towed a fairly well loaded U-HAUL trailer from DFW to Denver and the GC (V6 model) just kept chugging along like it was nothing.

I should also say that the car did it’s job and save my wife and child’s life once. My wife wasn’t paying attention and drifted over the bolts that were holding down temporary concrete barriers in a road construction area. That action shredded both driver side tires. My wife was able to recover and get the car off the road entirely.

As luck would have it, she did this in front of Classic Jeep in Denton, TX. I gave her my car, sent her on her way, and just had the dealer replace the tires. No other damage.

DNice210 > Wobbles the Mind 07/17/2017 at 15:16

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I have a 2001 Grand Cherokee 4 WD bought it 6 years ago with 64000 miles on it. Only thing I’ve had to do is replace power steering pump, tires, and regular maintenance. I now have over 200,000 miles and still going strong.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Wobbles the Mind 07/17/2017 at 16:24

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Wow, well done sir.

If you need 3 rows you can always jump to Durango with the same (but stretchd) platform.