Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Jeep Wrangler, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Parking brake | 47 | 21% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 29 | 13% |
| Power train | 21 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 12 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 4% |
| Structure | 9 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 3% |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 1995 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V041000 (Parking Brake) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that he had parked the v
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2020. WAS NOTIFIED BY INSURANCE OF A RECALL THAT WAS NOT DONE. CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED WORK CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRINDSTAFF CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2226 W ELK AVE, ELIZABETHTON, TN 37643) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V04100
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
I CALLED BAY AREA JEEP DEALERSHIPS (SERRAMONTE & PUTNAM) REGARDING MY 1995 JEEP WRANGLER TRUCK VIBRATIONS THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. ONLINE THAT THIS HAS A NAME, - THE JEEP DEATH WOBBLE. TWO DAYS AG
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, MINOR ATF LEAK, & HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED. ATF WAS HEAVILY CONTAMINATED BY PARTICULATE MATTER GENERATED BY MECHANICAL WASTE. NO LEAK WAS INITIALLY FOUND UPON INSPECTION,
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TWO DEALERS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE REP
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT TH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1995 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.
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 | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and parking brake is the most reported area with 47 of them (21%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 1995 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 70/100. 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.