Who Killed America's Most Iconic Car? - More Perfect Union

[TexasTowelie]

Jeep used to be a treasured American brand. But after Stellantis bought the iconic brand, workers say execs slashed jobs and quality to drive up profits. Now customers say the new $80,000 Jeep Wagoneer has mechanical issues fresh off the lot.

[Squaredeal]

1. Worst American vehicle.

I never understood the appeal of owning a jeep for daily driving.
Unreliable, uncomfortable, unsafe, poor quality, relatively expensive to maintain.
Someone who makes poor choices comes to mind.
Perhaps fun to drive as one’s adult toy but backbreaking for the passengers on long trips.

[Old Crank]

3. The Jeep ride isn't so smooth.

Unless you are on a sheet of glass.
Like my old Land Cruiser. Short wheel base, narrow track, high CG, and hard springs all contributed to a harsh ride.

[Hieronymus Phact]

4. I have a Grand Cherokee

it's been perfect maintenance-wise since new in 2018, it's engine is tuned for regular gas, and it's excellent for long drives. The seats are comfortable, and the cabin is nicely quiet while driving. I've had no problems to speak of. The gas mileage is up to 10 mpg above my old Pathfinder on a highway trip.
Your comment was the complete opposite of my experience. but that's a 2017 model. maybe they went downhill since then? That would be a pretty rapid decline.

[thesquanderer]

11. Sounds like you're thinking about the Wrangler style Jeeps, that's not the only kind of Jeep.

My old Grand Cherokee was one of the best (and most comfortable) cars I've owned.

[FSogol]

13. We've always have good luck with Jeeps. We've owned 3. Listed below

Had a 94 Jeep Cherokee that lasted 370,000 miles. The A/C died during the its last year and when the heater core finally died (no heat in the winter) I traded it to a contractor who put it in a container headed to Guatemala.

Wife had a 2002 Jeep Liberty that had almost no issues until the transmission started slipping at 210,000 miles. We sold it to our mechanic for 1,000k this summer.

Currently driving a 2007 Jeep Wrangler with 230,000 miles. It suffered from the wheel death wobble issue early on, but Jeep replaced the front end at their cost. Other than normal maintenance and a clutch, no major issues.

They are fun vehicles to drive, but they aren't for everyone.

[Old Crank]

2. The steering issues

And tire wear sound just like what happened to grand Cherokee s several decades ago.
Have never been impressed with Jeep reliability.

[doc03]

5. Chrysler products have been poorly rated by Consumer Reports for years before

Stellantis even took over.

[yellowdogdemocrat1]

6. Grand Cherokee - I love mine too

This is one of the most comfortable vehicles I've owned and it will turn on a dime, much needed as I love to travel in the woods and the mountains. It's a 2016 and I haven't had any problems with it at all. Good mileage. I've driven it on long trips.

[NoMoreRepugs]

7. As with EVERYTHING in America today social media is going to present

exact opposite opinions. How people rely on it boggles my old decrepit mind.


Going back to mumbling to myself now……

[lonely bird]

8. The smaller Jeeps have more ride issues

I have heard that model which most would view as off-road is called a kidney bruiser.

The Jeep brand is constrained, imo, by what the name Jeep means in the mind of the buying public.

The entire company has been shaky for a while.

[Martin68]

9. Poor corporate management killed the Jeep. And changing tastes. Couldn't compete with SUVs and trucks.

[thesquanderer]

12. Jeep kept up with tastes. They've made some really nice SUVs. (n/t)

[Martin68]

15. True, but there is nothing distinctive about a Jeep SUV. I think the brand was no longer fashionable. After all,

it was based on a very rugged vehicle designed for use by the US Army. My Dad was in the Navy during WWII, and after the war he bought a surplus Jeep, shipped it to Mexico, and spent months exploring the Mexican hinterland in the vehicle. It did very well on numerous challenging roads that were well off the beaten track.

[thesquanderer]

16. re: "there is nothing distinctive about a Jeep SUV"

Last edited Thu Dec 12, 2024, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't think they are any less "distinctive" than anyone else's. They're all fundamentally similar and it comes down to personal preferences. Jeep sure sold a ton of them.

ETA: ChatGPT says that Jeep sold 2.7 million Wranglers (the "traditional" style of jeep) from that model's 1986 introduction through 2023; whereas they sold 7.5 million Grand Cherokee from its 1992 introduction through 2023.

[Martin68]

17. I guess I have a very out-dated idea of what a Jeep is.

[PortTack]

10. Who killed it? the corporation that produces it killed it!

My SIN has one and it’s awful….rough ride, uncomfortable seats, noisy, the windshield design being so flat causes it to crack. they just get it fixed and it cracks again. Very difficult to get in and out of. The handles to assist seem poorly placed. Very poor resale value.

[AwakeAtLast]

14. Just Empty Every Pocket n/t