Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Jeep Wrangler, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 19 | 21% |
| Parking brake | 15 | 16% |
| Seats | 12 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 8% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
| Structure | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FUNCTIONING
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
CHRYSLER IS NOT HONORING /REPAIRING THEIR RECALLS. I HAVE EMISSION/SAFETY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THAT POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE, EXPLOSION TO NOT ONLY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE BUT TO ITS OCCUPANTS TO INCLUDE TRANSIT. CHRYS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WERE ODORS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SIGNS OF THE FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
RECALL 617 WAS NOT REPLACED. E BRAKE CABLES NOT REPLACED. DID NOT REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. I HAD TO GET, TWO NEW DIFFERENTIALS AND CLUTCH IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WITH THE NEW RECALLS LISTED IN THE PAPER WHAT ABOUT
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
FRAME BROKE AT REAR DRIVERSIDE LEAFSPRING. SHACKLE MOUNT ALSO REAR SHOCK MOUNT BROKE OFF. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JEEP AND CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 92V0148000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION C
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS FUMES. THESE FUMES APPEARED WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. REGARDLESS OF DAY/NIGHT OR WHEN PARKED. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR A GAS LE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WHILE LEANING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IT BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE BACK OF THE SEAT FELL OFF THE SEAT WAS NOT A RECLINER WAS STATIONARY. *TC
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1990 Jeep Wrangler. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTA
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO T
Risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN SELF-RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.
Risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH A STRONGER PAWL RETURN SPRING. OWNER NOTIFICATON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UP
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 19 of them (21%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.