Paid $19,500 for a 2014 JGC overland with all the bells and whistles. Bought it in June of 2020. After driving it for a week, it then spent 28 days at the dealership for an overheating issue. Blew the EGR. Superheating the coolant. Covered by the extended warranty. Replaced for free. Parts back ordered. Sat in the dealership lot for 28 days. Got it back but the service dept mucked up the coolant flush(ie there was still contaminated coolant in the reservoir). Didn’t catch it until I took it back for the W41 recall 3 weeks later. Was furious as it also had the green coolant added to it which was the wrong stuff. Smh. Got it back with the ‘Happy Jesus Thumbs Up’ from them and sent me on my way onto a 1200 mile trip.
Drove to bend oregon. Well attempted to. Trip was going great all the way up to a tiny incline 15 miles outside of Redding California. I was napping in the back next to our 18month old daughter and wife is driving munching Doritos or whatever. Suddenly, Ding ding ding. Engine coolant overheat warning. Goes into limp mode. I look up and see a sign for a rest stop a mile out. Stop, have it towed to dealership. Rent another Jeep. Finish trip. Pick up JGC on return and am told nothing is diagnosably wrong. ie can’t make it do it again so we can’t work on it. Did a flush anyway and bled the system. Ok. No charge. But $300 for rental to finish trip. Guess who owns the rental shop too? Anyway, no skin off my nose this time. Stupid time to be taking a trip.
So we drive it home with a hawk eye on that temp gauge and oil temp and trans temp.
All three didn’t budge. solid. Highest the oil got was 224. Trans was a solid 195. And water temp gauge was at one line below half the whole way.
Fast forward a week to sept 3rd(I remember because it was only a few days ago and it was my b day. Just getting back from 7am morning feeding of horses, pull into driveway and it’s dripping coolant. Not much but about a quarter sized drop every two feet at 5 mph. Check reservoir, coolant is low again and it looks dirty as hell. Again.
Called into dealership, set appt for next week...less than thrilled...and also not about to shove my way in front of some other poor joe who is also having Chrysler engine troubles. ;0)
Parked it on the street and noticed a growing puddle until yesterday. It’s dry now what with the heat wave going on. Checked reservoir again as that’s the only spot I know to check coolant level and it hasn’t changed.
Also have a car with STARS and Jeep Cares.
Now despite all that, and since it Is covered for the emissions related troubles by a warranty until 2024 or 156,000(gonna have a fight with FCA on that one too) no regrets yet. Little stressful dealing with the dealership as I’m feeling like their techs aren’t up to the task and the nearest other dealership is an hour or more drive away.
If it wasn’t for the warranty I’d do as much of the work myself as I can. Which says a lot about what I think about this vehicle. Outright love it. Drives great...when it drives. Rides great...when it drives. Enjoy the hell out the diesel mileage....when it drives.
Guess the key point will be after next week when I take it in. If it drives after that for a period of time with out dealership intervention, I’ll be thrilled. If it leaves me and my family on the side of the road again...well shame on me for three times a charm...I guess.
Someone else here joked “Wife says the dealership owns the Jeep, and we just paid for visitation rights.” Apt.
