[CinciAv]

"Quality
. In the latest J.D. Power IQS, the company improved six points, and Chrysler and Dodge brands showed improvement. Unfortunately, the Jeep brand was last in the survey due to concerns about the Wrangler Unlimited. We can do better and we know it."

This was in the press release from Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications, released over the weekend. So how long have the 2007 Wranglers been out and they just now "know" that they have quality issues? Computer glitches, top leaks, poor paint coverage, crappy plastic, jumping hoods and weak A/C seem like they would be easy and inexpensive fixes. But hey, it's selling with no rebates, so don't worrry about fixing it!!

It would be nice if they take care of the drop in resale this release will cause current owners!! Hey, if you are looking for a good deal on a used one, your chance is coming soon! Maybe it is time to buy a spare one with half doors?

Don't get me wrong, love my jeep!!! Just not the clueless highly paid bozo's like this!!!!! Doesn't someone read these first, before they send them out??

[YuccaPatrol]

Over the years I have been involved with several enthusiastic car/4x4 communities. I have learned how to love the vehicle while hating the manufacturer of each and every one of these.

The paint on my Jeep is the WORST quality I have ever seen on any vehicle ever. I can't believe that they cannot completely cover the panels with paint and wonder just how thin it is on the areas that appear covered. I noticed this before buying and that is why I got a white Jeep because that color will look good for many years even if the paint is crap.

[liquids]

Originally Posted by CinciAv

... Computer glitches, top leaks, poor paint coverage, crappy plastic, jumping hoods and weak A/C seem like they would be easy and inexpensive fixes. But hey, it's selling with no rebates, so don't worrry about fixing it!!

It would be nice if they take care of the drop in resale this release will cause current owners!! ...

Computer glitches, poor paint coverage, jumping hoods - should have been addressed before the 2008s came off the line;
top leaks - they tried to fix that several times, but I think they had (have?) their heads in the sand on the cause. I still don't know if they have it down, but apparently they have a new "fix";
crappy plastic - seemed to have been "design intent" on the JK and a number of other vehicles, and came back in their faces big time;
weak A/C - haven't heard about that one and I'm on this board a lot, so it has to be low on anyone's priority list.

Re: resale? I have no intention of selling mine for at least a decade.

[Matthew Davis]

This is the price of being an 'early adopter'. We all jumped into 07's and 08's- a new vehicle. I think everyone has heard the phrase "don't by the first year of a new model". But we did (or almost did) and we have to live with the consequences. This really extends a few years to at least 2009 (so it appears) in the JKs case.

On a much smaller cost scale, this is analogous to the situation of say.. the Iphone. People paid what, $399(?) for a new Iphone with crappy email support and slow Internet, now Iphone2.0 is $199.

Ideal situation would likely be to wait until 2010. But in that case, we would find a really good deal on an old 07 we could not pass up

...oh, and we did buy a Chrysler after all!

[yoda13]

For what it is worth, I can never remember Jeep doing well in these things, it never even gave me pause when I bought my current one, having said that, that idiot PR guy didn't do anybody any favors...but Jeeps have always had great resale, and he is not going to mess with that, if anything does, it will be the gas prices...

[fbca7]

I must have an '07 that was hand built! No wind noise, no water leaks, no bouncing hood (interesting that I have an underhood blanket on my "X" and bumpstops but my son's '08 has neither), seems to be a good paint job, A/C is excellent. It has done the computer thing twice where the electronics shut off for just a split second...I just need to get it in for the reflash. I'm getting an honest 21mpg in normal commuting. My son's '08 has the hardtop and he has wet floors. Going back in for the second time to get that fixed. Otherwise, he is very happy with his too. When you produce a cult vehicle, you can get away with cutting corners...cause it will sell...to a point. We had an '04 Liberty...no issues in 65K miles. We now have an '08 that gets MUCH better mileage and rides much better than the '04.

[wTheOnew]

I still don't get why they are having computer glitches, well I do, but they should have been addressed long before the '08 model year. The comment about the weak AC kind of has me scratching my head. My A/C is REALLY cold.

Originally Posted by Matthew Davis

On a much smaller cost scale, this is analogous to the situation of say.. the Iphone. People paid what, $399(?) for a new Iphone with crappy email support and slow Internet, now Iphone2.0 is $199.

The new iPhone is still kind of a rip. With the boost in plan prices and the fact that they don't include a cradle for it any more it will end up costing about $100 more over the span of two years. The Internet on it is still going to be crippled so that the US telecoms don't have to upgrade their networks fully. But then again I haven't been sucked into Apple PR's doublespeak. (wow, doublespeak is in FF's spellchecker...)

Originally Posted by fbca7

I must have an '07 that was hand built! No <problems> ...

Same thing, except I have an '08. I just have a few annoyances with the computer but nothing serious that requires immediate attention. She just needs a little fine tuning.

[yoda13]

I love my iPhone...

[999666]

Jeep is a Chrysler after all, I never expected a quality built macheine from them, I'll keep my BMW for that.
Bought my Wrangler purly for the 4X4 in a relativly small size and lucked out, no problems @ all with my 08 but I do notice the not fully sprayed panels as mentioned already.
At least they kept the gavenized steel.

[TxJeepers]

got the bouncy hood
noticed the a/c doesn't blow as cold
seems underpowered
knowing i can go where most won't dare
priceless...it's a jeep thing

[thejafe]

Hate to say it guys, but quality concerns are a very good reason not to buy a vehicle within the first few years of production. If chrysler maintains the same pattern as with previous wrangler types you can look forward to ten full years of production. They will eventually get it right -- just like they did with the TJ.

[Hellbound13]

Lets also not forget torque converter shudder and clunky steering due to the steering shaft.

[OregonVette]

funny thread.
I type this post from my $600 iPhone (one of the first units released).

I just drove into the driveway with my wicked-cool unlimited 08 wrangler in rescue green.
We took the hard tops off, the doors off & took the whole family for a mini 4x4 adventure on our way home from the restaurant too.

the good:
The heat works great. The ac is cold, top doesn't leak, its quiet on the freeway (considering its a big giant box) the 6 speed is great, I get decent mpg, I love it. Seriously, its like my old corvette, folks just want to look at it, thumbs up, etc... Its a very very cool rig.
I encourage all JK owners to stop thinking its a new car. Its not! Its a boxish frame, solid axle rwd/4wd box! Also, all JK owners should take the tops off and pop the doors off. It is VERY easy. It'll really open your eyes to what the Jeep is really known for!

The BAD
1. rust around door hinges- perhaps using a better vendor for these screws and/or putting a cheap coat of primer couldnt hurt for these areas.... But again, this has to do with the fun of removable doors etc (see above)
2. the computer head module. For real Chrysler, C'mon... You had to have tested & QC these things before the market, right? Error codes, reflashing, time at the dealer etc etc...
3. The Freedom Leak- mine doesn't leak . I live in Oregon. It rains here. A lot. But... I don't doubt those who have leaky tops because the whole design is cr@ppy. I can see the factorys attepmt to correct these problems on my 08. Its laughably, tape!!! Engineering-wise there didn't seem to be a factory effort to re-engineer & to correct this. Instead, they simply put extra black foamy sticky tape over the known leak points . Kinda funny bit not a real repair.
BUT... Again, this problem is directly the cause to the fact that the manufacturer intentionally designed the roof to be removed! Hence, it probably will leak. How many 5 series bmw's leak? How many 5 series bmw's have a removable roof?
that's what I thought.


So... Take your tops off, go in the dirt, camp, see the country, take the family on a nice bumpy dirt road and jam to state-of-the-art satellite radio!

Relax... It is just a Jeep you know

[999666]

^^ Good post .

[RockyClymer]

Guess I will give my 2 cents too - my '08 does not experience any of the bad AC, bouncy hood, leaking top, etc. problems. Paint? that has been a problem on most "cars" I have owned. I bought the Jeep because I wanted another Jeep, not another "car" or SUV - yes, it has it's quirks but none are fatal or unexpected to a long term Jeep owner IMO....I love mine.....and I too get an unexpected 22mpg while driving. Hope you guys find some satisfaction somewhere though...guess I am fortunate with the one I ended up with.