Jeep maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

Are Jeeps expensive to maintain?

While the cost of Jeep’s maintenance and repairs varies by model, year, parts and labor, it’s also very dependent on the specific usage of the vehicle — for instance, are you off-roading regularly (which may lead to increased wear and tear)?

While there are many factors in play, RepairPal estimates that Jeep vehicles average $866 in maintenance and repair costs per year. That’s slightly below the annual industry average of $891.

How Jeep compares with other automakers

RepairPal gives Jeeps a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, placing it 15th out of 32 car brands at the time of publishing. The data shows that Jeeps average 0.3 visits to repair shops per year, which is lower than average (0.4), and about 13% of those visits are considered severe, which is slightly higher than the industry average (12%).

Overall, this data suggests that the cost of keeping a Jeep on the road is pretty average, but these are also pretty broad statistics, so it’s worth comparing those average maintenance and repair costs across makes.

Jeep maintenance and repair costs by model

So far, the estimates we’ve cited have combined maintenance and repair costs for every vehicle in each automaker’s lineup, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Expected upkeep costs can vary from model to model, for instance.

Maintenance and repairs are also very different things, even though both can send you to the mechanic. Maintenance costs include every service for your Jeep that’s recommended on a normal schedule. Any service that requires an unexpected trip to the mechanic would be considered a repair.

Jeep maintenance cost and schedule

Most Jeep vehicles follow the same recommended maintenance schedule, but be aware that there might be some differences between vehicles. You can find your Jeep’s maintenance schedule in your owners manual. Following this schedule is important if you want to keep your Jeep in good shape and, perhaps more importantly, maintain whatever warranty coverage you have.

Your vehicle’s service schedule should include tasks like changing fluids and inspecting important systems and may suggest the following intervals: oil and filter change and cabin air filter change every 12 months or 10,000 miles; multipoint inspection every 24 months or 20,000 miles; and spark plug replacement every 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Maintenance costs are relatively easy to figure out since you know when they’re coming. You have to look at what those services cost at your mechanic and map them out over your recommended maintenance schedule.

Example: 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintenance costs

We’ve included average maintenance service costs for a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Austin, Texas, below, but you should expect some variation based on your area and vehicle.

You can avoid paying for some of these services if you buy a new Jeep, though. All new Jeep vehicles are eligible for free maintenance through the Jeep Wave program. Starting with 2021 Jeep vehicles, Jeep Wave coverage lasts for three years with no mileage restrictions. During this term, you receive the following benefits for free:

• Three tire rotations and oil changes
• Same-day vehicle rental during maintenance appointments
• Trip interruption coverage of up to $1,000
• 24/7 roadside assistance

Once this coverage ends, you’re responsible for all maintenance costs, though.

Schedule maintenance for severe driving conditions

If your Jeep is operated under severe driving conditions (scenarios such as frequent short trips, extensive idling, driving in dusty, sandy or muddy environments, driving in extreme temperatures or towing heavy loads), it’s suggested that you schedule maintenance at more frequent intervals.

Jeep repair costs

While maintenance costs are fairly easy to calculate, it’s much more difficult to estimate repair costs, given that nobody knows when their car is going to break down.

We can get a better idea of common repair costs by looking at aggregated data, but remember that your vehicle may not have the same issues as similar vehicles, for better or worse.

Example: 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee repair costs

For example, you can check out the table below to see some of the most common repairs for 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokees. Keep in mind that these prices are only estimates.

While your Jeep is covered by its factory warranty, you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of repairs. However, your warranty doesn’t cover everything, and it doesn’t last forever. Currently, Jeep’s bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), while its powertrain warranty lasts five years or 60,000 miles.

Even with a factory warranty, there are things to be concerned about. In February 2023, an anonymous ConsumerAffairs reviewer posted: “This vehicle was leased in April 2022 and has now been at the dealer waiting for a new motor. Jeep continues to say that they are waiting on the new engine. This has been since October 2022 and has been in the shop longer than on the road. I have tried working with Jeep on a resolution but they continue to drag their feet. I requested a buyback and they said that it may cost a fee to do so. Not sure how it works but it would be nice if this company would stand up for their product and hold themselves responsible for poor quality.”

Greg, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from New York, had similar troubles, writing: “Bought a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in July of 2021 for $63,000. Within a few months rust started to form. … The dealer declined repairs so I contacted Jeep customer service and opened a case and claim. They also denied the claim stating the rust was from ‘outside influence’ whatever that means. I am furious that they would let a simple repair like this leave a customer furious and hating the car because of this. There are several others online with similar issues and a class action suit has been launched.”

Author’s note: If you're using your Jeep in a way that it wasn’t intended to be used, warranty coverage isn’t going to help. As a mechanic, I’ve seen many customers who think rock crawling should be a covered activity in a model that’s not meant to perform such feats. If you plan to do the same, you need to be prepared to pay the repair bills that naturally follow.

How can an extended warranty help?

After your factory warranty and complimentary maintenance periods end, you're responsible for keeping your Jeep in good condition. However, this can be expensive, and falling behind can leave you without transportation.

Many people opt for extended car warranties and prepaid maintenance plans as a way to save money on repairs and maintenance, but you need to shop carefully for these plans if you’re trying to save money in the long run. Jeep actually has official extended warranties and prepaid maintenance plans, but there’s no guarantee that these are right for your needs.

Paying too much for an extended warranty or maintenance plan can make it extremely difficult to end up with a net savings, so it’s worth taking your time to research the pros and cons of these plans and get quotes from multiple companies.

» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance