1995 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

I PURCHASED A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER RIO GRANDE EDITION JAN 2003. IT HAD 103,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION. AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS I STARTED TO HEAR A COLD ENGINE KNOCKING IN THE 2.5L ENGINE. I HAD MECHANICLS CHECK THE LOWER END AND ALL LOOKED GOOD. I ALSO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP, LIFTERS, PUSHRODS AND ROCKER ARMS AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2.5L, AND 4.0L ENGINES THAT DC PRODUCED FROM 1991 - 1995 WHICH IS PISTON SLAP WHEN THE ENGINES GET OVER 70,000 MILES ON THEM. I ALSO FOUND A CLASS ACTION SUITE AGAINST DC CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMERS WON WITH THE OPTIONS OF A NEW ENGINE, GOOD TRADE IN ON ANOTHER CAR OR GREAT DISCOUNTS ON DEALER ITEMS. I CALLED DC AND ALSO WROTE A LETTER ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND THIS LAW SUITE. THE REPLY I GOT WAS THAT BASICALY SUCKS TO BE ME AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. SO NOW I EITHER REPLACE MY ENGINE THAT WILL COST ME OVER 2,000 OR HOPE AND PRAY WHEN I DRIVE THAT IT WILL NOT DESTROY ITSELF. I AM IN THE COAST GUARD AND MY JEEP IS MY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK AND I DONT GET ALOT OF MONEY THAT I CAN JUST THROW AROUND ON A NEW ENGINE WHEN I JUST BOUGHT THE JEEP LAST YEAR. IF I DID NOT LIKE JEEPS SO MUCH I WOULD DRIVE IT TO THIER FACTORY AND PARK IT THERE TILL THEY FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082796

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

103,000 mi

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1995 WRANGLER. THROUGH WARRANTY, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 1999. LESS THAN 15K MILES LATER, I AM TOLD THE CONVERTER MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALER REFERRED ME TO CHRYSLER WHO HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER. IF I PURCHASE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, I RECEIVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY. CHRYSLER PROVIDES AN 8 YEAR WARRANTY ON IT FROM THE DATE OF "IN SERVICE" OF THE VEHICLE (1995). THE REPLACEMENT DUE TO NO FAILURE OR MISUSE ON MY PART MAKES NO PROVISION FOR ANY EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY AND I AM TOLD NO ONE HAS ANY DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY ON THIS MATTER. APPARENTLY, THE OEM CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISN'T WORTH THE ENDORSEMENT. GUESS I WON'T GET THAT SECOND JEEP - CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP UP THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PURCHASES IT REQUIRES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WORTHLESS WARRANTY ISSUES!

NHTSA ID

10073119

Incident

May 25, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

I OWN A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER, SAHARA MODEL, AND THE QUESTION I HAVE IS THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. THE DEALER FOUND IT AND SAID IT SHOULD BE FIXED OR REPLACED FOR A NOMINAL FEE ($750). I ELECTED NOT TO HAVE IT DONE AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICEMAN ABOUT THIS HE STATED TO ME THAT IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED OR REPLACED MANY OF THEM. MY QUESTION IS IF IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF IT, THEN THEY SHOULD REPLACE OR REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? AM I ENTITLED TO A FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART? PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS? I AM NOT SURE OF THE DATE BUT HAD TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE INCIDENT DATE FIELD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. REGARDS, DARL M. DODSON, E-MAIL [email protected]. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023768

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT A VAN. THE VEHICLES FUEL SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, TP SENSOR AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO RATTLED. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10021986

Incident

Apr 1, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT STAND BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. PH

NHTSA ID

10002052

Incident

Jan 5, 2002

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE ROLLED BACKARDS INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8024105

Incident

Dec 10, 2001

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS ON A HILL IN PARK WITH ENGINE ON, WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8021068

Incident

Dec 24, 2001

THIS IS THE THIRD CAT I HAVE HAD TO PLACE ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FIRST TWO, ALL FAILING AT ABOUT THE TIME 50,000 MILES COMES AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE, AND REPLACED THE FIRST TWO FREE OF CHARGE. NOW ANOTHER DEALERSHIP STATES THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THESE. THE INSIDE OF THE CAT COMES LOOSE, BLOCKING THE EXHAUST, HINDERING PERFORMANCE. ALSO NOTED BY A NOISY METAL RATTLING NOISE WHILE AT IDLE OR UNDER ACCELERATION. MR

NHTSA ID

768435

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.*SCC

NHTSA ID

567764

A BOLT FROM MANIFOLD SHEARED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA ID

896611

Incident

Feb 20, 2001

I ORIGINALLY DIDN'T CONSIDER FILING A COMPLAINT UNTIL I HAD THE THIRD MAJOR COMPLICATION OCCURRED. I'VE SINCE TALKED TO OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THE 4.0 AND HAVE FOUND MOTOR MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE MORE PREVALENT THAN THEY SHOULD BE. AFTER THE THIRD PROBLEM (TRANNY), I BEGAN MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS SITE. IT CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS THAT DC IS USING IN MAJOR COMPONENTS. I TRIED TO REASON WITH A SERVICE REP AT DC BY EXPLAINING THAT I'M A DIED IN WOOL JEEP FANATIC (5 JEEP JAMS) BUT SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANNY PROBLEMS AT THESE EARLY MILES IS PART OF THE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP PACKAGE. THAT MAY BE TRUE AT DC, BUT NOT AT OTHER CAR MAKERS LIKE TOYOTA AND FORD. THIS IS DEFINITELY MY LAST DC PRODUCT. I'M GLAD I FOUND THIS SITE; I KNOW WHERE TO GO IN THE FUTURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

744439

Incident

Mar 18, 1998

HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM CAR JUST LOSES ALL POWER VERY INTERMITTRENTLY TAKES5-30 MINUTES TO START AGAIN, DEALISHIP ATTEMPTED TO FIX BUT COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. ULTIMATELY CAR STALLED AND WHEN STARTED BACK UP ENGINE WAS KNOCKING, NEEDS NEW ENGINE NOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

725201

Incident

Mar 29, 2000

MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER ,AND I READ THEY WERE RECALLED. I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. CAN I BE REMBURSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

716670

Incident

May 13, 1999

DEFECTIVE MOTOR MOUNTS THAT SUPPORT THE ENGINE BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO MOVE AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

852955

Incident

Mar 24, 1999

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THERE WAS A BIG BANG. SHROUD POPPED AND PUT A DENT IN HOOD OF CAR. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

852665

Incident

Nov 5, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BROKE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER. YH

NHTSA ID

549298

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE LIKE A TIN CAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THEN I NOTICED IT HAD STOPPED MAKING THE NOISE 2-3 DAYS AGO.THEN JUST YESTERDAY 8-3-99 WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IT HARDLY HAD ANY POWER AT ALL & WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT TO 40 MPH.IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 1 MILE TO REACH THAT SPEED.EVERYTHING HAD BEEN OK WITH THE VEHICLE UP TILL THEN.THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO CONVERTER RECALLS ON THIS JEEP AFTER RUNNING THE VIN NUMBER,BUT AFTER I INVESTIGATED FURTHER ON THE INTERNET & TALKING WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE BOTH OWNERS & MUFFLER SHOPS IN MY AREA I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS A FACTORY DEFECT.SEVERAL OF THE MUFFLER SHOPS COMMENTED THAT THEY REPLACE ON AVERAGE OF 6 TO 7 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS A WEEK ON JEEP WRANGLERS ALONE & SOME WITH LOW MILEAGE.AGAIN ,THIS VEHICLE RAN LIKE NEW UNTIL THE NOISE IN THE CONVERTER CAME & WENT.ALSO THIS JEEP HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD ONCE.THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER & WHAT I THINK IS A PREMATURE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

709616

Incident

Aug 3, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

709556

Incident

Jul 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MOUNTS THAT ARE FASTENED TO THE ENGINE BLOCK SHEARED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

843499

Incident

Jul 26, 1999

IDLER PULLER FAILED CAUSING LOCK UP AND OVERHEATING OF BELT. MJS

NHTSA ID

547172

Incident

Jan 8, 1999

EXTREME AMOUNT OF RUST THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. VIRTUALLY ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE PRESENTS VARIOUS DEGREES OF DECAY.NO DAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

706995

THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS THE REPLACEMENT (5/96) AFTER RECALL; I HAVE ONLY 54K+ MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD SO SOON. *AK

NHTSA ID

706727

Incident

May 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

704949

FUEL LINES FAILURE CAUSING HIGH PRESSURE RESULTING IN LEAKING OF GAS.

NHTSA ID

539001

Incident

Oct 15, 1997

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION CASE BROKE.

NHTSA ID

605844

Incident

Mar 1, 1997