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I don't think they (Jeeps) go long enough for the wheels to fall off. A fellow I know, upon his retirement eighteen months ago, bought one. Not sure which model he got, but rest assured, it wouldn't be an entry model or pov pack. No expense would have been spared speccing it, as it was intended to tour, on and off road.
Six tag along tours were booked, for the first year. The first trip was a Snowy mountains tag along. The first service was done by a Sydney Jeep dealer, who also replaced the windscreen. The broken screen, unluckily broken on the way down the Pacific, was an omen of the fortune about to unfold.
After a couple of nights in a swank inner city hotel and some sightseeing, a small group assembled to head for the Snowy Mountains, under the leadership of a professional guide. All went well until the convoy departed the bitumen. The Jeep with less than 2,000km on the clock, would not engage off road/ four wheel drive. Much time was spent, with the help of the experienced four wheel driving guide and continuous consultation of the pristine owner's manual. Jeep Australia were consulted to no avail, merely suggesting what had already been tried. Eventually the car lost all drive and had to be tilt trayed back to the closest dealer (Canberra?). The first trip had to be abandoned with much disappointment and no refund.
The dealer had the car for a number of days, managing to get the car to drive, but could not get off road mode to engage. Their advice was to take the car back to the dealership from which it was purchased. With a lot of trepidation the car was driven back to Queensland, it made it with many more electrical and computer gremlins creeping in.
The dealer had the car for months, finally returning it with "Sorry, we can't find out what's wrong with it so cant fix it. You'll have to take it away.
The car has sat in this fellow's back yard for twelve months. It has been replaced by a Ford Everest.
A refund for the Jeep was demanded. Jeep Australia flat out refused a refund, or any form of compensation while admitting they couldn't repair the vehicle. The attitude was unbelievable, making Basil Fawltey look like a rank amateur. Did they really think that someone who has just forked out north of six figures, is going to shrug their shoulders with an oh well, bummer?
After taking legal counsel from a solicitor, of many years business retention, the advice was to go to QCAT, a court where the plaintiff and defendant represent themselves.
The case was based on the facts that a 4x4 was sold but could not be engaged or repaired. Jeep sent a solicitor and barrister to argue that it wasn't a four wheel drive, but an SUV. The pair of legal practitioners were sent packing ,with a flea on their collective lug holes. It is strongly suspected that tis was a deliberate delaying tactic. The tribunal ordered an independent assessment, by a tribunal nominated, expert, to determine if off road functions could be deploying with any confidence. The assessor reported back that he wouldn't drive it to the corner store, with any confidence. To date evidence points to Jeep being sat on their arse, but with these things nothing's in the bag until the judgment is delivered. That's due in July.
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