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 $634 in maintenance and repair costs per year. That’s slightly below the annual industry average of $652.

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). About 13% of those visits are considered severe, which is slightly higher than the industry average of 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 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 such as changing fluids and inspecting important systems and may suggest the following intervals:

• Every 12 months or 10,000 miles: Oil and filter change and cabin air filter change
• Every 24 months or 20,000 miles: Multipoint inspection
• Every 10 years or 100,000 miles: Spark plug replacement

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.

Jeep Wave Program

The Jeep Wave Program was a premium owner loyalty program that came standard with the purchase or lease of any new Jeep vehicle between the 2021 and 2025 model years. It helped cover various maintenance expenses, with Jeep Wave providing a range of benefits for no additional cost during the coverage term.

Starting with model year 2026, new Jeep owners are no longer eligible for the program; instead, Jeep says they can enroll in the FlexCare Vehicle Protection Program, which is the official extended service and maintenance plan for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo.

Existing customers who are enrolled in Jeep Wave can continue to use the program’s perks, such as free oil changes and tire rotations. But unlike a traditional extended warranty, Jeep Wave membership doesn’t transfer to a new owner if the Jeep is sold.

Seasonal Jeep maintenance tips

Depending on where you live and how you use your Jeep, it can be a good idea to perform certain maintenance and preparation tasks prior to summer and winter each year.

Prepping for winter

If you live somewhere with snow on the ground and salt on the roads in the winter, you’ll want to make sure your Jeep gets you where you need to go and rolls into spring without any issues.

• Test your battery in late fall and change it before winter if needed. Extreme temperatures can put batteries through a lot, and you don’t want your car to not start on a frigid morning because of battery failure.
• Consider switching to fluids made for the season, such as winterized windshield wiper fluid to help break up ice and prevent freezing, and a winter weight synthetic oil.
• Wash your Jeep regularly. Even if you’re not taking it off-road, the salt solutions on the road can cause corrosion. Taking it through the car wash isn’t just for looks, especially this time of year.

Prepping for summer

It also doesn’t hurt to check on a few things in the springtime to prepare for the brutal summer months.

• Just like extreme cold, extreme heat can put major stress on your Jeep’s battery. Have it tested and replace it if necessary. It also may be a good idea to test it throughout the summer (especially after a heatwave) to make sure it’s still going strong.
• Test your air conditioner. It may have been months since you cranked up the A/C, but try turning it on to see how quickly it cools down and if it maintains a comfy temperature. If it’s not working properly or you’re unsure, have a professional look at it. You don’t want to discover that your air isn’t working on the hottest day of the year.
• Check your fluid levels. Is your Jeep’s coolant level where it needs to be to keep your engine from overheating? While you’re looking at this and topping it off if needed, make sure your brake fluid and windshield wiper fluid levels are where they need to be, and that there are no leaks coming from your Jeep.

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 common repairs

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.

Preventative maintenance strategies

Preventative maintenance is one of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of major, costly repairs down the line. In addition to following the manufacturer-recommended service schedule, here are several strategies to keep your Jeep running smoothly:

By staying proactive with preventative care, you can avoid unexpected repair bills, extend your vehicle’s lifespan and ensure a safer driving experience.

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 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