Whenever you think about getting a jeep, you ask yourself, are jeeps expensive to maintain?
You might be asking this question if you are interested in buying a Jeep. However, it is not that simple. Jeeps have a reputation for being costly to maintain.
The simple answer is that it depends on your usage. If you push the Jeep to its limits, it will break down more often and will require more frequent expensive repairs. That will make it more expensive to maintain.
But if you drive your Jeep carefully on easy trails and city roads, then it won’t break down that frequently. In that case, its maintenance costs will be roughly equal to that of most SUVs. So with careful driving, Jeeps are not that costly to maintain.
So the assertion that jeeps are costly to maintain is not necessarily true. Maintenance costs of the vehicle are more or less equal to the national average. That’s a good thing since the Jeep is a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
There are plenty of Jeep dealerships that can provide spare parts and components for your vehicle if something breaks. There is also a huge aftermarket where you can buy all sorts of Jeep parts and modify your Jeep according to your personal preferences.
Due to the strong competition in the automotive sector, buyers can enjoy reduced and attractive prices.
You can read further to determine what maintenance costs are expected for various Jeep models.
Jeep Maintenance Costs – the Reality
The common perception is that jeeps are expensive to maintain. However, this statement is far from true. Jeep maintenance costs are not much different compared to other similar SUVs with careful use.
There are several factors why jeeps are not so expensive to maintain.
The Jeep brand is known for the ruggedness and durability of its vehicle. The automotive brand designs components for its vehicles to withstand the toughest conditions and extreme use. Since Jeep vehicle components are engineered to be long-lasting and durable, the brand has a solid reputation for reliability. As a result, a Jeep vehicle is one of the most dependable vehicles you can drive.
However, there have been a few glitches along the way. Bear in mind that, like virtually all other automakers, Jeep has also recalled its vehicle several times in the past to deal with technical problems.
Overall, Jeeps are not that expensive to maintain. Average maintenance costs of Jeep models are somewhere around the national average.
Let’s get to know the different jeep models better:
Jeep Cherokee Maintenance Costs
The Jeep Cherokee’s average annual maintenance cost hovers around $520. The added benefit of owning this fine model is that its spare parts are not too expensive either. This will reduce the costs of ownership, such as maintenance costs.
For all vehicles, the national average for annual maintenance costs stands at around $650. When compared to this number, it is easy to see that Jeep Cherokee maintenance costs are substantially lower.
When you compare Jeep Cherokee maintenance costs with its peers, you will find that it is good. The national average across the compact SUV category is around $521. Hence, it is virtually equal to the national average in its category, which is fair enough.
Jeep Grand Cherokees
The average annual maintenance cost of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is around $665.
This is just a bit more than the national average of $650 for all kinds of vehicles. The good news is that spares are not too costly. The bad news is that the Jeep Grand Cherokee has had several recalls over the years due to certain repair issues. Although these repair problems may not exist in each and every Grand Jeep Cherokee, they increase the average maintenance cost.
Jeep Compass Maintenance Costs
The average maintenance cost of the Jeep Compass is a relatively low $525 per year. Also, this model happens to be the most reliable model in the Jeep range.
Jeep Compass owners can enjoy further benefits that can be obtained from the massive aftermarket. Many aftermarket brands are vying for a bigger market share in this sector. Owing to strong competition pricing is quite attractive for aftermarket parts. Jeep Compass parts are also quite affordable, which is another key plus point.
Jeep Wrangler Maintenance Costs
Jeep Wrangler is perhaps the most well-known model in the Jeep lineup.
It has an average maintenance cost of around $660 per year. This is more or less at par with the national average of $650.
Spare part prices for the Jeep Wrangler are fairly low. This, combined with the high quality of spare parts, provides good value for money.
But do note that you should not look at price alone when buying spare parts for the Jeep Wrangler or any other model for that matter. Always favor quality over the price tag.
So before finalizing your purchase decision, ensure that you research the component thoroughly. It would also be a good idea to seek the opinion of a mechanic you trust before spending cash on any component.
Jeep Renegade Maintenance Costs
Jeep Renegade maintenance costs stand at around $500, which is quite low compared to the national average.
The Renegade is considered to be a subcompact SUV. Besides the low maintenance cost, another great thing about the Jeep Renegade is that it has a fairly good record for reliability.
Jeep Gladiator Maintenance Costs
The average maintenance expense of the Jeep Gladiator is around $600. Hence, it is somewhat lower than the national average for all vehicles.
Gladiator is the model that Jeep launched for the pickup truck segment. Although it is designed for resilience, its reliability record is not particularly good. This factor could add to the cost of Jeep Gladiator maintenance.
Are Jeeps Prone to Problems?
Various models in the Jeep lineup have had to contend with one or more problems over the years.
One reason why there are technical issues is that new features are added to new generation models. Since these features are new, they are prone to more problems.
The trouble with new features is that they can certainly be tested in a controlled environment. However, the impact of the real-world environment could be quite different. It is not easy to anticipate all conditions that a model will be subjected to in the real world.
New features are tested for relatively short periods. Hence, it is not known how reliable these features will be over a longer period. It could take a few years for hidden problems to surface.
As a result, it is not unusual for technical problems to transpire. When they run into issues with the latest features. owners of the latest models who don’t have any experience with older generations are thus prone to thinking that the Jeep is problematic.
However, when you talk to Jeep owners who have long experience with the brand, you will soon find out that this notion is not true.
Other people who think that Jeep is unreliable are those who run into technical problems after buying second-hand vehicles without proper inspection and research. Unless you carry out proper inspection and research, there is a high risk that you might come into possession of a Jeep that is vulnerable to serious problems.
Hence, you should do your research before purchasing a second-hand Jeep. You can go to numerous Jeep forums where experienced users explain what you should look for when buying a second. So make a checklist of all things that should be looked into when shopping for a second-hand Jeep.
The bottom line is that a Jeep is not too expensive to maintain with light use. However, maintenance costs will likely be higher with heavy use and off-road driving on tough terrain.
Maintaining Jeep Performance
Jeeps are great for both off-road driving and going around in cities. It is a great vehicle for taking your family on a ride. The key benefit of owning a Jeep is that you can use it with equal ease both on both roads and off-road trails.
But if you will be spending most or all of your time driving on city streets, then Jeep is not the optimal choice. Since the Jeep is bigger than most other vehicles, it also has a relatively lower acceleration. The noisy cabin is also an issue to think about.
Remember that the Jeep Wrangler does not boast too much cargo space. There may be sufficient room for up to 5 people. However, the ride is not that comfortable.
However, you can think of installing a rack on the roof of your Jeep so that you can put more stuff if necessary. Another option is to invest in a trailer if you really need a lot of cargo space.
However, if you are sure that you will be taking off-road trips quite frequently on your vehicle, then the Jeep is one of the best brands you can consider. Jeep models can give you impressive stability and maneuverability on the toughest terrain.
Although the softcover top is not exactly ideal for cruising at high speeds in cities, it is just what you need for an off-road trip.
Jeep Lifespan
Apart from the maintenance cost, you also must consider how long a well-maintained Jeep can last. If you take care of maintenance and drive it carefully, you can easily expect it to last 15 to 20 years.
Bottom Line
We hope you get your answer to the question “Are Jeeps expensive to maintain?”.
If you are worried about maintenance costs, then you can keep these expenses relatively low by driving carefully and carrying out regular maintenance.