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Jeep CJ5Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 2 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on record for the Jeep CJ5.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints2Top: Power trainSafety recalls131972–1982 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Jeep CJ5 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CJ5 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Jeep CJ5 problems

All model years combined: 2 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train10
Steering10
13 recalls

Jeep CJ5 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Manual transmission: lubricant82V-125 · 1982 · Dec 13, 1982 · 13,532 vehicles–Seat belts: rear/other80V-158 · 1981 · Dec 5, 1980 · 478 vehicles–Power train: manual transmission79V-070 · 1979 · Mar 14, 1979 · 1,174 vehicles–Relay: connecting78V-243 · 1979 · Nov 6, 1978 · 363 vehicles–Ignition: module78V-065 · 1975–1976 · Mar 31, 1978 · 102,398 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar78V-049 · 1978 · Mar 9, 1978 · 2,726 vehicles–Power train: manual transmission78V-039 · 1976–1978 · Feb 17, 1978 · 96,933 vehicles–Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)76V-034 · 1976 · Mar 1, 1976 · 18,858 vehicles–Unknown or other76V-025 · 1972–1976 · Feb 13, 1976 · 1,918 vehicles–Leaf spring assembly: shackle74V-157 · 1974 · Sep 17, 1974 · 19,088 vehicles–Foundation components: master cylinder72V-173 · 1972 · Jul 7, 1972 · 15,819 vehicles–Headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch72V-086 · 1972 · Apr 19, 1972 · 10,357 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 13 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the CJ5

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA88009 · 1980–1985 · closed Jan 9, 1990
    Led to recall 88V-132
  2. FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LKPE88001 · 1983–1988 · closed Jan 28, 1988
    No recall
  3. ROLLOVERDP81018 · null · closed Dec 27, 1981
    No recall
  4. CARBURETOR FUEL LEAKAGEDP75001 · 1973 · closed Jul 27, 1975
    No recall