JEEP GRAND WAGONEER · model year

1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER

14 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1986JEEPGRAND WAGONEER carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1986 GRAND WAGONEER is equipment:appliance:air conditioner with 1 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 29 investigation files overlapping the 1986 GRAND WAGONEER, and 3 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR1

Recent Complaints

19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

THE WHOLE CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF ALL ENGINE PARTS. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING POWER WITH SMOKE AND FOWL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DAMAGED ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR AROUND $1200. ALL VACUUM HOSES, ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, THE BRAKE FLUID RESOVOUR, ALL HOSES AND BELTS, THE CATALITIC CONVERTER, TO NAME A FEW, WERE THE ITEMS REPLACED. NOW NEARLY 10 MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL MAJOR CARBORATOR AND EMISSION PROBLEMS. IN JUNE, 1999, $500 WORK ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO CORRECT IT SO IT WOULD PAST THE SAFETY INSPECTION TESTS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN LEAKING FLUID AND THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). I AM ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING, TURN THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE MOST OF THE TI

19981217FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DASHBOARD.

19960214SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN, UNABLE TO LATCH SEAT BELT. TT

19951012EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

COOLANT LEAKED INTO HEATER/AC HOUSING, AC IS NO LONG WORKING. TT

Compare 1986JEEPGRAND WAGONEER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER have?
The 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER?
The most-complained component for the 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER is EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH.
Is the 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1986 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.