Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Jeep Wrangler, and it carries 5 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 | 22 | 18% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 13% |
| Seat belts | 14 | 11% |
| Power train | 11 | 9% |
| Parking brake | 10 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 5% |
| Structure | 5 | 4% |
| Visibility | 5 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 1993 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V041000(Parking Brake); however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. No further information was available.
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
Was filling up with gas when I noticed it was leaking out the bottom of the vehicle
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
HELLO, I PURCHASED A USED JEEP IN MAY 2018. ONCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE JEEP, MY MECHANIC MENTIONED THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL. SO, I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT REPAIRING THE RECALL DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T H
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL VAPORS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL SENDING UNIT PROBLEMS THAT DON'T LET THE FUEL GAUGE READ CORRECTLY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
PARKING BRAKE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. WAS REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO BASED ON MANUFACTURER RECALL. SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING: BRAKE WILL RELEASE BY ITSELF, AT FIRST WAS OCCASIONAL, NOW IS ALL THE TIME, MAKING T
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
93,WRANGLER,MANUAL TRANS. GAS TANK LEAKS AND FILLS GARAGE UP WITH GAS FUMES AND GAS. PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGES , AND WONT ENGAGE . DEALER SAYS RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND SHOULD BE
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
AC LINE RUBBING AGAINST FENDER. IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN THE LINE CAUSING IT TO LEAK WITH EXTREME PRESSURE. REPLACE LINE AND MADE A BRACKET TO HOLD LINE AWAY FROM FENDER. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1993 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 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.
SALT CORROSION PRODUCTS BETWEEN THE STARTER SOLENOID WIRE AND THE ADJACENT BATTERY FEED IN THE BULKHEAD CONNECTOR MAY SHORT THESE CONNECTIONS, CAUSING THE CIRCUIT TO BYPASS THE IGNITION KEY CONTROL OF THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. THE CAR CAN START WITHOUT THE STARTER SEQUENCE BEING INITIATED BY THE I
Risk: THE UNINTENDED START OF A VEHICLE WITH A MANUALTRANSMISSION LEFT IN A DRIVE GEAR CAN RESULT IN A RUNAWAY VEHICLE.
Fix: THE STARTER SOLENOID WIRING WILL BE SEPARATED FROM THE BATTERY FEED WIRE BY RELOCATING IT WITHIN THE BULKHEAD CONNECTOR ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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 | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 27 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 22 of them (18%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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.