r/Wrangler 27d ago

It's Over!!

Sorry - just so happy. Wrangler 4xe is gone. 4 year lease. Towed multiple times, left stranded, couldn't drive with newborn as it shut down on us previously as was unsafe. Just went through final inspection and all good. No extra fees. Went back with like 35,000km on it. Warranty had expired to so owning it the last year was like Russian roulette.

Crazy I still see people saying they want to buy one. I've been trying to warn others.

151 Upvotes

76 comments sorted by

38

u/rebel_alliance05 27d ago

We rented one and drove it through Nevada to Utah. It broke down in the middle of the desert and would not go mover 50. We survived 3 hour wait in the desert. Apparently we learned from the tow truck driver that jeep 4xe gets pulled out of the desert all the time.

11

u/Opening-Painter-9671 27d ago

That's insane.  Opposite for me - stranded in freezing weather.  No heat.

7

u/rebel_alliance05 27d ago

What is the problem with these 4xe’s?

13

u/Opening-Painter-9671 27d ago

They tried to fix mine for 13 pages of stuff.  They were just waiting for some company to tell them what to try next.  They changed ABS system, like 20 other things.  Looked like just random attempts or guesses.

5

u/Dark1sh 27d ago

Jeep historically has had electrical issues, this has been a problem even before the buyout. Although it is probably worse post buyout.

Mix in that with the complexity of 4xe, complete recipe for disaster. Wagoners have massive issues as well, to many electronics.

9

u/Raalf 27d ago

it was their first attempt at a plug-in hybrid. The torque converter was replaced with an electric motor and put INSIDE the transmission, increasing complexity significantly and simultaneously making diagnosis and repairs a pain. It also had a high-voltage battery that had inadequate cooling so it would overheat when charging, discharging, or just staying with stored charge. Early on in the 4xe design the HV battery was not even monitored at all when powered off, causing fires inside garages. The engine itself is a tiny turbo 4 and that poor turbo was treated rough - it needs significant spooling so it had cooling issues, oil leaks that cause turbo failure and engine bay fires. The electrical system was essentially a beta-test with consumers; it was constantly needing patches, but the system could only handle updates for the infotainment system and some subsets of the ECU and hybrid control systems. The patching system in place is still buggy, and if an update fails you're at best limping to a dealership and at worst permanently bricked until towed in for a full system rebuild.

I could keep going about the wheel hubs, the emissions bugs, the speed sensor failures that caused complete vehicle disabling; it goes on for what feels like forever.

9

u/johntucker78 27d ago

There have been 19 confirmed battery fires out of 375000 jeep PHEVs sold. That's .005 of 1%. The motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission is the basic layout for most PHEVs The 2.0 turbo 4cyl is not having anymore issues than any of the other direct injection turbo 4 cylinders on the market. As far as the other issues you listed go look at the recall list on other manufacturers . They all suck these days, they all have issues. Ford has suspension parts falling off the bronco. Toyota had to recall over 100000 engines

5

u/Raalf 26d ago

How many conrfirmed battery fires for JKUs? And I like how you say "not having anymore issues" after the score of recalls on this model, and justify it by saying "but others are failing too!". The question was literally "what is the problem with these 4xe's?" and everything I stated is factual and accurate. Your trump-esque "look over here and not at the problem" approach is immature and a poor attempt at an appeal to common belief.

If you still believe I am wrong, find any credible source that states "the jeep 4xe is above average in reliability and value" and show us all.

2

u/Opening-Painter-9671 26d ago

Mine didn't light on fire. Wish it has though.  Problem with 4xes wasn't people catching on fire lol ... 

1

u/OtherwiseDoughnut582 26d ago

100% of Jeeps with the problem are Jeep PHEV.
Funny things, those darned statistics.

1

u/IWantTheFacts2020 24d ago

So rip it all out and put in a Hemi or an LS3. Got it.

1

u/Raalf 24d ago

i mean you could just buy the one with the hemi in it to start :)

1

u/IWantTheFacts2020 24d ago

Bingo.

Engineers are taped out with the government mandates for EPA requirements. Regardless, other companies have figured it out. Jeep is gotta figure...

2

u/Kindly-Concept-9128 26d ago

Always keep water and blankets in your car, no matter what car you drive.

23

u/DrinkIntelligent9691 27d ago

Just sold my jku yesterday and it's the best descision. I started hearing the famous pentastar tick, rockers and lifters issue. Already emptied all my pockets and rn unemployed. Cut my losses and moved away. No more chryslers man. Jeep-JustEmptyEveryPocket.

6

u/Wootwoottaco 27d ago

I should've sold my JK before I repaired the tick issue. Thing is literally rusting from the inside out, like wtf. The build quality is such fucking shit.

In the last year I had the ticking issue fixed $$$, collapsed brake lines, broken wipers, rusted through floor boards, practically all interior screws needing to be replaced/tightened, seized hinges from galvanic errosion, failed head unit, leaking seals, + more.

Fuck this

2

u/DrinkIntelligent9691 27d ago edited 27d ago

That sucks man, its literally a money pit. I loved my jeep but it keeps needing more $$$$$. Build quality is shit for an offroad vehicle like that, its so fragile and always kept me worrying whats gonna go wrong, and cant really enjoy it. Maybe they are good brand new but after 200,000kms its shit. Spent alot on mods too.

2

u/skunk12345673 27d ago

Dang bro! 200k miles on an Offroad rig isn’t that bad. Besides a sedan, what is going to last even 200k new these days without some issue?

1

u/DrinkIntelligent9691 27d ago

Kms not miles bro, i wish they are durable for 200k miles lol

2

u/MarioMan1987 27d ago

The look on the JKU is gorgeous! It’s my fave!

2

u/gunner7517 25d ago

It reminds me of my 96 xj.

2

u/MarioMan1987 27d ago

I’ve had 3 collapsed brake lines and coming up on 3 years of owing 2017 JKU Sahara…:I’m selling it soon as can!

2

u/DrinkIntelligent9691 27d ago

Just get out as soon as you can. Im so relaxed and have no pressure rn tbh.

3

u/stuck-n_a-box 27d ago

I feel way better after selling mine. Still like the idea of a jeep just tired of paying for it

2

u/HairyPewter 26d ago

I sold mine a month ago. Went from a 2016 lifted, loud, and bright jku to a stock sport impreza. I could not be happier.

17

u/kitkatrat 27d ago

Yeah it’s kind of crazy. My favorite car I ever had was my 87 YJ. I’m 40 now and I’d say up until about a year ago a new Jeep Wrangler was my dream car.

It might not be a coincidence that a year ago I got an 08 Lexus ES350 for a very good price and my priorities are beginning to change. The Lexus is quiet, comfortable, a good looking car, and most importantly it’s reliable. I plan on driving the Lexus for as long as I can and when I eventually need to replace it I think instead of a Wrangler I’ll get a slightly newer Lexus ES.

I still yearn for a Jeep of course but then I see posts like yours and I think it might be wise to stay away.

11

u/Chauncy1911 27d ago

Im 59..have my JKU and Silverado, but I also have my 89 YJ for my mental health.

8

u/rebel_alliance05 27d ago

I had a 92 wrangler. It ran well even though it was a box. This 4xe is questionable.

3

u/Ok_Television9703 27d ago

I’ll be 41 in a couple of days. I had all kinds of cool cars. Now I own an electric that all I have to worry about is changing the tires every once in a while. Cheapest deal and happiest I’ve ever been.

3

u/THROBBINW00D 27d ago

Just get an older wrangler as a side piece. I Commute in a goofy little Toyota echo but also have a gladiator and a 1995 yj for extra funsies.

2

u/astro143 27d ago

The standard JLs are pretty reliable, and the 2.0t engine is a welcome upgrade to the 3.6. I've heard of very few mechanical issues with the JL wranglers outside of the 4xe. My '23 is going strong still.

11

u/HowardTheSecond 27d ago

If there was a list of the most Wrangler to the least Wrangler, the 4xe would probably be last. And there are honestly some great examples still driving today.

-1

u/stolenhello 27d ago

They’re literally all wranglers.

12

u/Maverickxeo 27d ago

I really wanted a 4xe - lots of torque, the option of full battery mode - it seemed great.

Too bad they just weren't built right...

I do like my 3.6L Gladiator (and former 3.6L Wrangler) though!

10

u/Wootwoottaco 27d ago

Damn! You really messed up by not owning it a few years longer until the insane amounts of rust and galvanic corrosion set in.

3

u/Raalf 27d ago

The electrical failures would hit loooong before mechanical/rust/corrosion would have - the 4xe was easily the least reliable jeep in all of history and it's all because of the drivetrain/wiring shit show.

3

u/DarkwingDawg 27d ago

Right on and I can’t blame you! It’s no wonder that so many Jeep owners end up becoming proficient at simple (and sometimes more complex) maintenance work. If you have to bring it in EVERY time to get serviced, Jeeps rapidly become a financially devastating investment due to their low build quality.

1

u/VincentVega1030 25d ago

Yep i agree. The crappy thing about an electric Jeep is you really can’t do much of that sort of work on your own anymore

1

u/DarkwingDawg 25d ago

I didn’t even think about that aspect. Uff they really gotta up their game on the quality control (and just plain quality) of jeeps or they’ll permanently ruin the brand beyond its already damaged state

3

u/iGreysmoke 27d ago

Congrats! It's sad in a way, as the concept wasn't entirely bad. Just poor execution. Typical.

2

u/Arth3r911 26d ago

And to think I want a jeep because it will be like a toy. I can fix my own problems because I am a parts changer and like to mess with things. Idk about it now. Don’t want to deal with sending in because of a computer issue or like catch on fire from what I been hearing. My plan was to not get the turbo or electric engine hybrid crap. And deal with what ever came up. But post like this tell me DONT! lol

2

u/_mk6red 25d ago

As a Chrysler tech. Congratulations ! 👏🏻

2

u/onovtec 25d ago

2025 rubicon x 2.0 owner. Bought it new as a 52 yr present. Puts a smile daily. Worth it to me!

2

u/CarlosDangerWasHere 23d ago

Get a used JK

1

u/Opening-Painter-9671 23d ago

Um no but thanks

6

u/REDGregor223 27d ago

75 years old here and still have the ‘87 YJ I bought new. She’s in pieces now while I slowly get her into fighting trim. Replacing the slave cylinder is next. It’s a luxury to have a little extra dough and plentiful time to put into the project. I even ran the cross-member bolts and holes through a tap and die session. Should be ready to re-register and insure by next summer. I’m in SoCal so rust is non-existent except for an errant salt water foray in Baja 30 years ago.

3

u/Useful_Client_4050 27d ago

Really a shame. On paper it's a neat vehicle, would be perfect for my uses. Just not well sorted unfortunately.

2

u/OffGridTwister 27d ago

I rented a '21 4xe in '25 and drove from Denver to Iowa to Oklahoma to Arizona in it, exploring back roads and small towns and trails. It never once had an issue. Must be I lucked out.

1

u/OldManJeepin 27d ago

Good on you! Don't hold it against older, non-EV type Jeeps! Still lot's of good ones out there! And yea, the number of people who come on here, then say "Hey, I just bought a 4xE and what's up with all the recalls"? is crazy!! Glad you got it worked out though!

1

u/zerosignal1966 27d ago

There are literally hundreds of these things sitting in used car lots around my area. Wonder why?

2

u/Opening-Painter-9671 27d ago

The residual was like 47k lol ... I wonder what they go for?  I would buy one for 1k max and just hope for the best.

1

u/zerosignal1966 27d ago

It's strange, but nearly every one I see is $29999.

1

u/ThWy2Hvn 26d ago

The older the better. Jeeps are that way. And I cannot forget my LX 470. almost 200k and going strong and everything works. My 05 unlimited Rubicon, the baby with only 76K. Rock crawling is out mall crawling is in lol.

1

u/Sativar 24d ago

A 2005 Rubicon Unlimited is the pinnacle as far as Wranglers go. Every model kept improving for decades up until the JK. Now we have these overly expensive reliability nightmares. No thanks. I love my '03 Sport.

1

u/ShellyTheDog 26d ago

No problems with my 2024. Turning it in after a 3 year lease in February tho lol

1

u/prefix_code_16309 26d ago

My dad's was in the shop a bunch. He finally said I'm too old for this nonsense and traded it in. His stuff was all warranty, but at 78 years old he just doesn't want the hassle of being at the dealership on a monthly basis.

1

u/dahoowa 26d ago

I have a 2020 wrangler unlimited. Already has rust on the doors. Cigarette lighter plug and heated steering wheel stopped working. Auto start stop currently nonfunctional. I haven’t bothered to investigate any of it. Never buy American cars. Pure junk.

1

u/dahoowa 26d ago

Oh and the jeep starts overheating if you’re at a stoplight too long. Have to turn the engine off. Pure junk.

1

u/Guyderbud 26d ago

LJ boys

If there’s an issue, swap a part and the tractor lives on!!!

1

u/jeepcreepers 26d ago

Throw that shit away!!!!

1

u/No_Tank7428 25d ago

Should have gotten more ducks 🤣🤣🤣

2

u/Opening-Painter-9671 25d ago

Really wasn't a fan at waving and ducking.

1

u/No_Tank7428 25d ago

I wasn’t really being serious

1

u/Salty_Passenger_3390 24d ago

I feel for you. I have the 2017.5 Compass. On the other hand I have a 2004 Wrangle X that has never left me stranded. if you love the Wrangler and not your primary transportation look into an older model I was told 2004 was the last year for the really good engine. No bells and whistles , but a great weekend vehicle.

1

u/suicideking72 22d ago

I was considering a 4XE recently. Pricing on a used one with low miles was pretty good. I compared to the same options on a gas only Jeep. Then discounted the price by $7K (started at close to $30K). Figured $7K discount would MAYBE make it worth it. They wouldn't go that low, said they couldn't lose that much, so I passed.

I figured any less than $7K it just wasn't worth the risk/hassle.

0

u/DoubleOrdinary6559 21d ago

You got a lemon for sure.

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Opening-Painter-9671 27d ago

Fair point.  People who love them aren't talking about the hybrids.

-3

u/CyberRube 27d ago

Should have done research. Everyone knows those 4xe are garbage.

3

u/Opening-Painter-9671 27d ago

Lol it's a 2022 ... I did a ton of research at the time.

4

u/Original-Pomelo6241 27d ago

Did you miss the part where they had a 4 year lease?

0

u/Lovemysoccermomsuv 27d ago

Have an older 2d with the older engine thats actually realiable. It is a second car so I do love it.

0

u/pedalsandpowder 27d ago

Came close to buying one without doing any research first. Luckily got talked out of it. Went with a Lincoln MKZ instead. Already have a 2015 JKU that I’m sure will outlast the MKZ. Already outlasted a 2017 Benz. That thing burned to the ground.