RoadVitals

1985 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 Dec 11, 1998
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Jeep CJ7, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and seat belts categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Engine350.0%
  • Transmission233.3%
  • Seat belts116.7%

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

Engine
Filed Dec 11, 1998
Fire reported

CONSUMER HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND KNOCK ON THE CONSUMER'S DOOR. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
832181
Incident
Dec 10, 1998
Transmission
Filed Feb 7, 1997

CLUTCH LINKAGE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
546648
Incident
Jan 31, 1997
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA ID
511380
Incident
Oct 21, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Dec 30, 1995

PANEL WELDED TO FLOOR AND HOLDING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CORRODED. *AK

NHTSA ID
490980
Incident
Dec 30, 1995
Engine
Filed Nov 8, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE IN THE ENGINE. TT

NHTSA ID
974811
Incident
Sep 8, 1995
Transmission
Filed Nov 6, 1995

THE CONSUMER SAID WHILE SHE WAS SHIFTING THE GEARS STICK CAME OUT IN HER HAND. TT CONSUMER STATES THIS PIECE LITERALLY SNAPS ONTO A STUD ON THE GEAR BOX. *SLC

NHTSA ID
974583
Incident
Oct 30, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

RCL/622

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UNKNOWN

RCL/623

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jeep CJ7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988001—
1987001—
1986201—
1985Viewing602—
1984002—
1983602—
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.