[che]

Hi,
I was just about ready to take the plunge and buy a Latitude, but then started reading the "problems" threads and wondering whether it would be best to wait until the 2016s come out. But I'm puzzled. The Renegade is not a new vehicle in the traditional sense. It's been sold and driven in Europe for many months, if not longer. Didn't the manufacturer's experience there give them the chance to "work out the bugs," as people keep saying needs to happen here? In a way, the vehicle is already in its second year, and yet we're still seeing quality-control issues and other problems.

So now I'm gun-shy. Is a Renegade just a big bundle of headache waiting to happen? If I decide to go ahead and get one, is there really any point to waiting a year?

 

[Foobar]

Hi,
I was just about ready to take the plunge and buy a Latitude, but then started reading the "problems" threads and wondering whether it would be best to wait until the 2016s come out. But I'm puzzled. The Renegade is not a new vehicle in the traditional sense. It's been sold and driven in Europe for many months, if not longer. Didn't the manufacturer's experience there give them the chance to "work out the bugs," as people keep saying needs to happen here? In a way, the vehicle is already in its second year, and yet we're still seeing quality-control issues and other problems.

So now I'm gun-shy. Is a Renegade just a big bundle of headache waiting to happen? If I decide to go ahead and get one, is there really any point to waiting a year?

None of the problems reported are unique to this vehicle, nor are the indicative of a fleet-wide problem.

Even cars that have had a 10 year run have encountered similar issues, it's just magnified on the vehicle-specific forums.

I hang out on a lot of car forums, and each one would have you believe that every car is a guaranteed lemon with problems from the factory.

 

[Jessica08]

I'm in the same boat. This will be my first time buying a brand new vehicle on my own so I don't want a lemon or one that is going to be a headache. Luckily, I have a backup vehicle if indeed I had to put it in the shop, but I'm one to keep my vehicles many years so I don't want problem after problem.

I'm trying to time everything perfectly. My insurance is set to renew in mid-July on the two vehicles I have now, which is the same month my tags renew. In a perfect world, I will have me a Renegade ready to go in the same month. Or I may wait till January when my insurance is due again.

 

[bwbike]

This: " it's just magnified on the vehicle-specific forums."

I wouldn't worry about it. I have one and it has been a good car but I only have 650 miles on it so far. If anything goes wrong, it will be fixed under warranty.

 

[che]

Well, I know that not every Renegade is a guaranteed lemon. (Give me a *little* credit.) When the same problems crop up again and again, though, that's not good.

But that's all beside the point, which is, why are so many people thinking the 2016 Renegade will be so much better (de-bugged) than the 2015, since the 2015 is already a 2nd-year model?

 

[che]

Jessica, good luck with the timing! That sounds ideal. My purchase won't be anywhere near that organized. Are you waiting to hear more reports on this year's Renegade before deciding whether to buy this summer or wait until January?

I really like the Renegade--drove two of them the other day and loved the Latitude. The TH was less comfortable, more noisy (sounded like road noise, not wind), and didn't seem to handle quite as well. The Latitude was just right, solid yet nimble.

 

[Foobar]

Well, I know that not every Renegade is a guaranteed lemon. (Give me a *little* credit.) When the same problems crop up again and again, though, that's not good.

But that's all beside the point, which is, why are so many people thinking the 2016 Renegade will be so much better (de-bugged) than the 2015, since the 2015 is already a 2nd-year model?

Apologies - I didn't mean to imply that you're assuming all Renegades are lemons. I am, however, encouraging people not to hold their breath for a sudden change and a problem-free 2016 model.

It won't necessarily be any better. People always say that about first year models. In reality, aside from colors, ECU firmware tweaks, and major recall changes, there is very little that changes to address any of these "bugs" that first year models may have.

That all said, the Renegade is not a second year model. Mass-production of the 2015 MY started in late August of 2014. The 2016 will be the second year model which we should see production starting around August of this year.

 

[Jessica08]

Jessica, good luck with the timing! That sounds ideal. My purchase won't be anywhere near that organized. Are you waiting to hear more reports on this year's Renegade before deciding whether to buy this summer or wait until January?

I really like the Renegade--drove two of them the other day and loved the Latitude. The TH was less comfortable, more noisy (sounded like road noise, not wind), and didn't seem to handle quite as well. The Latitude was just right, solid yet nimble.

I am wanting to see more reports on them, and my dad has me concerned over the 9 speed. He seems to think it will be shifting all the time. IDK. I'm going to let him test drive it with me later on.

 

[Lackadazikal]

I'm in the same boat. This will be my first time buying a brand new vehicle on my own so I don't want a lemon or one that is going to be a headache. Luckily, I have a backup vehicle if indeed I had to put it in the shop, but I'm one to keep my vehicles many years so I don't want problem after problem.

Same here. I actually went to pick mine up tonight and had planned to purchase it but ended up leasing. It was less money down and smaller payments for 39 months. I will probably keep it after the lease is up because I'm also one to keep my vehicle. ...Just as long as it holds up well and behaves like a good lil Renegade.

 

[scooterCT]

>> So now I'm gun-shy. Is a Renegade just a big bundle of headache waiting to happen?

Nobody knows, including all the fan-boys and Jeep apologists in this forum, and also all the sky-is-falling critics on the opposite side. About the best you can do is assemble the best indicators currently available and make your own decision about whether or not you're comfortable buying the car.

A few simple factual statements.

Fact. Jeep and Fiat are both at the bottom of every major initial and ongoing quality and reliability study. They've been there for a long, long time.

Fact. People like Jeeps and Fiats and buy them anyway - sales are booming.

Fact. Those poor quality indicators are all backwards facing. Maybe the Renegade breaks the trend. Maybe it doesn't. Nobody, and that includes several self-appointed, all-knowing gods in this forum, have the slightest clue.

Fact. The 9 speed has encountered significant and ongoing problems across multiple platforms.

Fact. The car comes with a warranty. So if it breaks, they fix it, at least for several years. But it's for you to decide how you'd respond emotionally if you drive it 300 miles and the transmission craps out on the freeway. That's your call, not mine, not anyone's on this or any other forum.

Fact. It hasn't been in service long enough for trends to appear. All the stories good and bad are purely anecdotal.

Fact. Most of the people on this forum who've bought one - seem to love it to death. And I think most of them are reporting reliable service.

In the end it's your call. The most important fact is that there's not a single person on this forum who can predict what your experience will be, good or bad. That includes yours truly.

 

[che]

Thanks Foobar and Scooter. It is interesting that even with the low reliability rankings, Jeeps still sell well and inspire intense attachment and excitement. A friend at work, who has great difficulty walking and really needs a vehicle to get anywhere, says she would never consider buying anything OTHER than a Jeep.

Jessica, please let us know what your Dad thinks of the Renegade after the test drive.

Cheers, all.

 

[bwbike]

I am wanting to see more reports on them, and my dad has me concerned over the 9 speed. He seems to think it will be shifting all the time. IDK. I'm going to let him test drive it with me later on.

I have the Trailhawk model and it doesn't shift all the time. The transmission works nicely (for an automatic). The shifts are soft, quick, and barely noticeable. If left in drive and you're driving 65 mph (speed limit here) and start up a grade, it will shift itself as needed and maintain 65 mph.

One nice feature is if you're climbing a gradual hill and the motor is buzzing along at what you think is too high in RPM, you can very quickly bump the shifter over to manual mode and drop it down a gear. This is something that can't be done in my Son's old car which is annoying.

The 2.4L engine has plenty of pep once it hits around 3,000 RPM. Sure I wish it had more as it can't compare to my other car with its 6.4L V8. But it moves the Renegade well.

 

[RenGade]

I have the Limited and it was just 20 days old when the steering column started smoking while I was driving it in an interstate. I loved the car, but after the incident, I'm really disappointed with it.

 

[ManEater666]

I have the Limited and it was just 20 days old when the steering column started smoking while I was driving it in an interstate. I loved the car, but after the incident, I'm really disappointed with it.

Don´t know what you did with your Car ... but ... there are actual thousands of Renegades sold over here in Europe and nothing of those things are reported ...

Renegade starts in US and Transmissions fail, Steering posts start smoking ... if it is not Sabotage at your Dealers (because it is not a US Car anymore) I guess you US Boys got to ride Donkeys instead of driving modern Cars ...

 

[RenGade]

Don´t know what you did with your Car ... but ... there are actual thousands of Renegades sold over here in Europe and nothing of those things are reported ...

Renegade starts in US and Transmissions fail, Steering posts start smoking ... if it is not Sabotage at your Dealers (because it is not a US Car anymore) I guess you US Boys got to ride Donkeys instead of driving modern Cars ...

Or maybe, just maybe, I was really out of luck and got a lemon.

 

[LonN]

I'm in the same boat. This will be my first time buying a brand new vehicle on my own so I don't want a lemon or one that is going to be a headache. Luckily, I have a backup vehicle if indeed I had to put it in the shop, but I'm one to keep my vehicles many years so I don't want problem after problem.

I'm trying to time everything perfectly. My insurance is set to renew in mid-July on the two vehicles I have now, which is the same month my tags renew. In a perfect world, I will have me a Renegade ready to go in the same month. Or I may wait till January when my insurance is due again.

I assume you probably know this - but your insurance company will, I'm sure, let you change vehicles and prorate the difference in rates. I wouldn't think you'd need to time your purchase based on your insurance term. Tag renewal is a bit trickier. I think some states will give a refund if you request it - but I've never tried.

 

[CalTom]

Don´t know what you did with your Car ... but ... there are actual thousands of Renegades sold over here in Europe and nothing of those things are reported ...

Renegade starts in US and Transmissions fail, Steering posts start smoking ... if it is not Sabotage at your Dealers (because it is not a US Car anymore) I guess you US Boys got to ride Donkeys instead of driving modern Cars ...

Of course with this little thing called the Internet and Google Translate, you can actually see the problems of Renegade owners in Europe. For example, here is the problem thread at the Renegade Italy Forum:
http://jeeprenegade.forumfree.it/?f=64479726

Problemi: 1.6. diesel 2 wd
26*Topics
610*Replies

Problemi: 2.0 diesel 4 wd
40*Topics
874*Replies

Problems: 2.0.*diesel Trailhawk
12*Topics
191*Replies

There is a total of 78 Topics with 1675 Replies in the Italian Renegade Problem forums alone, nope, no Renegade problems in Europe.

Looking at the German Renegade Forum, I'm sure you can find more issues:
http://www.jeepforum.de/forum/56-renegade-forum/

Nope, no Renegade problems in Europe, yeah sure!

 

[Jessica08]

I assume you probably know this - but your insurance company will, I'm sure, let you change vehicles and prorate the difference in rates. I wouldn't think you'd need to time your purchase based on your insurance term. Tag renewal is a bit trickier. I think some states will give a refund if you request it - but I've never tried.

They will. I'm just trying to do that to save myself a trip to the DMV. It just so happens my insurance renews that month. The State of Alabama lets you pay for how many ever months is left until your normal renewal month. If I buy in January I will just pay January-June then renew for the entire year in July.

 

[Foobar]

They will. I'm just trying to do that to save myself a trip to the DMV. It just so happens my insurance renews that month. The State of Alabama lets you pay for how many ever months is left until your normal renewal month. If I buy in January I will just pay January-June then renew for the entire year in July.

What state are you in? In the states I've lived in, the dealer took care of all the title/doc/reg paperwork and I didn't have to go to the DMV.

 

[Jessica08]

What state are you in? In the states I've lived in, the dealer took care of all the title/doc/reg paperwork and I didn't have to go to the DMV.

Oh I didn't know that. I've never bought a new vehicle so that is great to know. I'm in Alabama so I'm sure they are the same, but how would I get my license plate for it?