RoadVitals

1983 Jeep CJ7

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Apr 7, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1983 Jeep CJ7, most frequently naming the fuel system, powertrain (other) and tires & wheels categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system360.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%
  • Tires & wheels120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA88009ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Nov 16, 1987
Closed Jan 9, 1990

ANALYSIS:MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER OR THE\TV GASKETING MATERIAL LOSES ITS STRUCTURAL AND/OR SEALING INTEGRITY DUE TOTHE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMC 258 ENGINE.TESTINGPERFORMED BY A LOCAL FLEET CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVINGCONDITIONS, MOTOR OIL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE #3 OR #4 CYLINDERS (OVERTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAN RESULT IN A FIRE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DESTROY AVEHICLE.AMC HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS TSB'S REGARDING THE PROPER/IMPROPER METHOD OF SEAL-ING THE VALVE COVER-HEAD INTERFACE.1981-84 AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES AREEQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER WHICH HAS 5 GUIDE PINS AND 2 FASTENERS.THE COVER USED IN LATER MODELS WAS RE-DESIGNED TO HAVE 5 ATTACHING POINTS,AND THIS NEW VALVE COVER CAN BE USED ON OLDER ENGINES BY MEANS OF AMODIFICATION KIT.AS EXPECTED, COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1985 MODELSDROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, INDICATING THAT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW VALVE COVERMAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.STATUS: IR TO THE MANUFACTURER SENT 12/1/87.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINELed to recall 88V132000
PE88001ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LK

Opened Oct 23, 1987
Closed Jan 28, 1988

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 7, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 JEEP CJ7. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T 693 TIRES, SIZE 32/1150/R15LT (NA). WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. HE ALSO NOTICED SEVERE TIRE SEPARATION DOWN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE, WHICH EXPOSED SIX BELTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 196,000.

NHTSA ID
10264351
Incident
Apr 4, 2009
Mileage
196,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 2, 2005

I HAVE A 1983 JEEP CJ7. ON APRIL 23, 2003, WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE. CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TO COME OFF, THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE ROAD AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. THE AXLES IN MY JEEP ARE THE MODEL 20 TYPE, AND ARE KNOWN BY EVERY 4-WHEELER TO EVENTUALLY BREAK. ALL THE JEEPS WITH THE MODEL 20 TYPE REAR AXLES ARE TWO PIECE AND VERY DEFECTIVE. IT COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE THE AXLE AND FIX THE DAMAGE. WHY WASN'T ANYTHING DONE ABOUT THIS KNOWN DEFECT????? *JB

NHTSA ID
10104949
Incident
Apr 23, 2003
Mileage
237,000 mi
Filed Jul 28, 1999

THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR JEEP WITH NO SOLUTIONS.

NHTSA ID
709351
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Aug 20, 1998

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAS NO SAFETY SWITCH FOR THE HIGH PRESSURED FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
827024
Fuel system
Filed Mar 22, 1995

HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SENDING UNIT GASKET IN THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS HIS 1979 CJ7. TT

NHTSA ID
962375
Incident
Mar 22, 1995
Fuel system
Filed Mar 1, 1995
Fire reported

JEEP CAUGHT FIRE AFTER PARKED 20 MINS. TT

NHTSA ID
960986
Incident
Feb 22, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jeep CJ7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988001—
1987001—
1986201—
1985602—
1984002—
1983Viewing602—
1982011—
1981021—
1980001—
1979020—
1978120—
1977010—
1976240—
1975020—
1974010—
1973010—
1972010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.