How reliable or unreliable are your vehicles?

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
1990 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4.0L:
-very reliable, had some age related issues near the end of it's life, mainly rust ~190k miles

2000 Buick Century V6:
-had some very odd electrical and transmission issues given that it had only 30k miles on it. Only owned a short time.

2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L:
-very reliable, no issues, drove for only 10k miles before it was hit and totaled. Had ~90k miles.

Current 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L:
-bought with 80k miles, currently has 163k miles. Have owned for 7 years. Had some issues initially with the cooling system due to previous owner neglect, but since then has been pretty reliable.


I read the first 2000 XJ and was very depressed, but then relieved to see you had another 2000. Still depressing nonetheless, but good to see you found a similar replacement.

*Would have been nice to buy it back for the drivetrain and parts though.

If anything happened to my Jeep, I would find another one. (XJ, ZJ, WJ.. Maybe a TJ) Well I want a Volvo or Audi AWD turbo wagon, but "she" says no...

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
1990 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4.0L:
-very reliable, had some age related issues near the end of it's life, mainly rust ~190k miles

2000 Buick Century V6:
-had some very odd electrical and transmission issues given that it had only 30k miles on it. Only owned a short time.

2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L:
-very reliable, no issues, drove for only 10k miles before it was hit and totaled. Had ~90k miles.

Current 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L:
-bought with 80k miles, currently has 163k miles. Have owned for 7 years. Had some issues initially with the cooling system due to previous owner neglect, but since then has been pretty reliable.


I read the first 2000 XJ and was very depressed, but then relieved to see you had another 2000. Still depressing nonetheless, but good to see you found a similar replacement.

*Would have been nice to buy it back for the drivetrain and parts though.

If anything happened to my Jeep, I would find another one. (XJ, ZJ, WJ.. Maybe a TJ) Well I want a Volvo or Audi AWD turbo wagon, but "she" says no...


Yeah I was glad to find a replacement. Got T-boned in the driver's door by a volvo doing 50 mph. The unibody was done. The only things that were worth saving were the engine and trans, but the person who was at fault's insurance paid for the value of the Jeep.

 

[mcgophers]

My 02 Elantra was rough when I first got it at about 103K miles. It needed suspension work and rear brakes before it was driveable. Within 20k miles, it needed wheel bearings and a new master cylinder. After that, it has been mostly regular maintenance apart from replacing a valve cover gasket, a heater hose blowing out, and having to replace a taillight after backing in to a camper.

 

[mcgophers]

Originally Posted By: mcgophers
My 02 Elantra was rough when I first got it at about 103K miles. It needed suspension work and rear brakes before it was driveable. Within 20k miles, it needed wheel bearings and a new master cylinder. After that, it has been mostly regular maintenance apart from replacing a valve cover gasket, a heater hose blowing out, and having to replace a taillight after backing in to a camper.


Forgot to mention, I had to replace a purge control valve solenoid because it was not wanting to start right after getting gas. And I took it in for inspection today and rust is trying to kill it! Dad and I are going to epoxy the spot to see if I can get some more life out of the car.

 

[daves87rs]

Wife's 2003 Cavalier....only a fuel pump (bad for that year) besides the usual stuff in 13 years...

 

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted By: dareo
2000 540 Sportwagon ... That awesome V8 was worth it! Friend now owns it and has had no further issues. His BMWs never break somehow.

I recently sold my 94 BMW 530i w/3.0L DOHC V8 M60.

Same block V8 as your 540i, only mine was the tiny 3.0L. Made only (2) years....94-85

Had 254k miles on it and was running extremely strong when sold.

 

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
2009, F150, 4x4, 5.4L Supercrew w/tow package, 95,000 miles.

Not one, that's right, not one fault, failure, issue or glitch.

The other 2 F150's, a 1998 w/4.6L has 300K miles has had it's share of minor issues
No plug launches yet out of either of those modulars ?

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: mcgophers
My 02 Elantra was rough when I first got it at about 103K miles. It needed suspension work and rear brakes before it was driveable. Within 20k miles, it needed wheel bearings and a new master cylinder. After that, it has been mostly regular maintenance apart from replacing a valve cover gasket, a heater hose blowing out, and having to replace a taillight after backing in to a camper.

check you timming belt and other belts. you may be due.
don't fret much because they are not really expensive.
next time try to get a gt: hatch (so more space), bigger brakes....
my '04 grenaded the trans at 89k miles. i'm not lead footed, but drove for years 1/2 city 1/2 busy highway. it always had the 1-2 "thingy"
beside that, required 2 sets of tires, fluid changes and brakes (front, back). and a radiator(cracked at 10.5 years old sharp). no body rust

 

[Triton_330]

I'm one of the younger members here on BITOG (I'm 21) so I've only been driving my truck for 5 years, but I'll try to recall as much as I can about my parents current and past vehicles as well.

My 2001 Ford F-150 5.4L (bought used at 98k), currently ~127k:
Front passenger side [lower?] A-Arm snapped when I was backing out of my driveway a few winters ago; I want to blame the harsh below zero temps for that (IL winters, brrr).
Also, the 4x4 hasn't worked for a couple years now, but I haven't gotten around to fixing it; could be a solenoid or vacuum lines.

Dad's [previous car] 1999 Ford Escort Wagon 2.0L (bought around ~100k?), dead at 260k:
Original engine shattered at 150k - possible timing belt[?]/chain[?] issue caused it.
Replacement engine (IIRC, a Jasper) had alot of issues within like 30k; bad compression, crazy oil burning, losing power; he could barely get it to speed to drive it back to the shop.
Second replacement engine worked fine, but then the auto trans went kerplunk at 260k.

Dad's [current car] 1998 Buick LeSabre 3.8L (don't remember the mileage when we bought it), currently 175k? (not sure though):
Sensors, sensors, sensors: MAP/MAF, O2, etc.
Not sure if the previous owner ever fixed the notorious head gasket issue, or if we've just gotten lucky with it so far.

Mom's [secondary vehicle] 1996 Ford Explorer 4.0L [OHV] (bought at ~60k?), currently ~185k:
The ONLY* issue it's ever had in the (over a) decade we've had it was that the fuel pump went out at 180k.
*exception: the heater doesn't work very well anymore.

Mom's [primary vehicle] 2005 Lincoln Aviator 4.6L (bought at ~70k), not sure of current mileage:
No issues so far.

Our "Show Car/Cruise Car" 1989 Chevy Camaro RS 305 TBI (bought new), currently ~48k:
Multple alternators, multiple water pumps...
I'm sure it's had more issues than that, but I just don't remember (or never knew of them).

~ Triton

 

[01rangerxl]

I took my 1994 Ranger 4x4 4.0L on its first road trip under my ownership this week with about 180K miles on the clock. Drove it from Birmingham, AL, to Chapel Hill, NC. Did some driving around there, including off road, then drove to Charlotte NC, then back to Birmingham, AL today. About 1200-1300 miles in 5 days in a 22 year old pickup. Didn't miss a beat. What impressed me most is it averaged 20-22 MPG the whole time. My 2002 3.0 won't do that. It did wear me out a little bit more than the 2002 truck would have though (in particular the manual trans in Atlanta)...the 2002 one is much better behaved in heavy traffic. Still, it was a fun trip and I was impressed with how smoothly such an old truck handled it.

 

[mcgophers]

Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: mcgophers
My 02 Elantra was rough when I first got it at about 103K miles. It needed suspension work and rear brakes before it was driveable. Within 20k miles, it needed wheel bearings and a new master cylinder. After that, it has been mostly regular maintenance apart from replacing a valve cover gasket, a heater hose blowing out, and having to replace a taillight after backing in to a camper.

check you timming belt and other belts. you may be due.
don't fret much because they are not really expensive.
next time try to get a gt: hatch (so more space), bigger brakes....

my '04 grenaded the trans at 89k miles. i'm not lead footed, but drove for years 1/2 city 1/2 busy highway. it always had the 1-2 "thingy"
beside that, required 2 sets of tires, fluid changes and brakes (front, back). and a radiator(cracked at 10.5 years old sharp). no body rust


I had the timing belt and other belts replaced at 170K miles and the serpentine belt adjusted at 185 because it got loose. I have seen a GT hatch from that era in my area at a buy-here pay-here but haven't investigated beyond that and if I replace this in the near future, it'll be for something new-ish.

 

[camrydriver111]

Originally Posted By: Katmandu
Originally Posted By: dareo
2000 540 Sportwagon ... That awesome V8 was worth it! Friend now owns it and has had no further issues. His BMWs never break somehow.

I recently sold my 94 BMW 530i w/3.0L DOHC V8 M60.

Same block V8 as your 540i, only mine was the tiny 3.0L. Made only (2) years....94-85

Had 254k miles on it and was running extremely strong when sold.


If it's the same block it probably has a very short stroke, which is good for longevity IMO.

 

[mcgophers]

Well right now I've got a doozy. Figures, as soon as I praise my car for being reliable, it decides to start clunking. Anyway, this morning the engine got hot out of nowhere, but it didn't overheat to redline. The upper, lower, and bypass radiator hoses were replaced. However, the technician seemed concerned that the new coolant was not flowing all the way and almost seemed to suggest that a new water pump is in line.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: mcgophers
Well right now I've got a doozy. Figures, as soon as I praise my car for being reliable, it decides to start clunking. Anyway, this morning the engine got hot out of nowhere, but it didn't overheat to redline. The upper, lower, and bypass radiator hoses were replaced. However, the technician seemed concerned that the new coolant was not flowing all the way and almost seemed to suggest that a new water pump is in line.

oh i forgot, when you change the timing belt you usually change the water pump too. others also had success with one water pump every 2 timing belt changes.
ans something to add to your vehicle list: elantra touring (wagon)

 

[mcgophers]

Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: mcgophers
Well right now I've got a doozy. Figures, as soon as I praise my car for being reliable, it decides to start clunking. Anyway, this morning the engine got hot out of nowhere, but it didn't overheat to redline. The upper, lower, and bypass radiator hoses were replaced. However, the technician seemed concerned that the new coolant was not flowing all the way and almost seemed to suggest that a new water pump is in line.

oh i forgot, when you change the timing belt you usually change the water pump too. others also had success with one water pump every 2 timing belt changes.
ans something to add to your vehicle list: elantra touring (wagon)


Surprisingly, the shop that I took it to when I got the timing belt changed didn't even suggest the water pump; though I would have paid for it since I didn't know the history.

I've seen some Elantra Tourings around and I didn't care for them. I actually just bought a new Sentra tonight for longer trips and am going to use the Elantra as my daily until the wheels fall off.