1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure114.3%
- Heating & air conditioning114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Interior & seats114.3%
- Seat belts114.3%
- Transmission114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TIME. OTHER TIMES I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAIT FOR A MINUETE OR TWO AND THEN RESTART. I RUN A PREMIUM GASOLINE AND EVERY OTHER TANK USE OCTANE BOOSTER. THE ENGINE GAGUES ALWAYS HAVE A NORMAL READING - EVEN WHEN THE EMISSION DEVICE FAILED - THE ENGINE NEVER SHOWED TO BE HOT, OIL PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AND BATTERY CHARGE WAS NORMAL. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COMPLETLY BROKE OFF. I NOW MUST OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HOOD LATCH WILL NOT OPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIME IT IS NECESSARY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE HOOD BEFORE THE RELEASE ENGAGES. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2-99 WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
COOLANT LEAKED INTO HEATER/AC HOUSING, AC IS NO LONG WORKING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TIME. OTHER TIMES I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAIT FOR A MINUETE OR TWO AND THEN RESTART. I RUN A PREMIUM GASOLINE AND EVERY OTHER TANK USE OCTANE BOOSTER. THE ENGINE GAGUES ALWAYS HAVE A NORMAL READING - EVEN WHEN THE EMISSION DEVICE FAILED - THE ENGINE NEVER SHOWED TO BE HOT, OIL PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AND BATTERY CHARGE WAS NORMAL. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COMPLETLY BROKE OFF. I NOW MUST OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HOOD LATCH WILL NOT OPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIME IT IS NECESSARY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE HOOD BEFORE THE RELEASE ENGAGES. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2-99 WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TIME. OTHER TIMES I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAIT FOR A MINUETE OR TWO AND THEN RESTART. I RUN A PREMIUM GASOLINE AND EVERY OTHER TANK USE OCTANE BOOSTER. THE ENGINE GAGUES ALWAYS HAVE A NORMAL READING - EVEN WHEN THE EMISSION DEVICE FAILED - THE ENGINE NEVER SHOWED TO BE HOT, OIL PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AND BATTERY CHARGE WAS NORMAL. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COMPLETLY BROKE OFF. I NOW MUST OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HOOD LATCH WILL NOT OPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIME IT IS NECESSARY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE HOOD BEFORE THE RELEASE ENGAGES. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2-99 WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DASHBOARD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN, UNABLE TO LATCH SEAT BELT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TIME. OTHER TIMES I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAIT FOR A MINUETE OR TWO AND THEN RESTART. I RUN A PREMIUM GASOLINE AND EVERY OTHER TANK USE OCTANE BOOSTER. THE ENGINE GAGUES ALWAYS HAVE A NORMAL READING - EVEN WHEN THE EMISSION DEVICE FAILED - THE ENGINE NEVER SHOWED TO BE HOT, OIL PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AND BATTERY CHARGE WAS NORMAL. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COMPLETLY BROKE OFF. I NOW MUST OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HOOD LATCH WILL NOT OPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIME IT IS NECESSARY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE HOOD BEFORE THE RELEASE ENGAGES. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2-99 WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .