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Jeep CJ7Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on record for the Jeep CJ7.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints17Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls101972–1986 model years

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

Best & worst years

Jeep CJ7 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 CJ7 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'85'86
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1986Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1976Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Jeep CJ7 problems

All model years combined: 17 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
Engine and engine cooling44
Fuel system, gasoline31
Tires30
Power train30
Seat belts10
Service brakes10
Electrical system10
10 recalls

Jeep CJ7 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–Vehicle speed control81V-015 · 1981 · Jan 4, 1981 · 1,724 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
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the CJ7

  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