Faults:

Nothing other than normal maintenance.

General Comments:

With well over 200K miles it runs like new and it is extremely dependable. The 4X4 always gets us through the worst snow in our rural mid-west area, including up our steep, long driveway.

I added a transmission cooler when the Jeep was new, and keep the transmission fluid changed every 50K (Amsoil universal ATF). The differentials and transfer case see fluid changes every 50K or so as well (Amsoil as well). The engine sees 12-15K oil changes with Amsoil 10W40. I do an annual fluid analysis on the transmission and engine (Blackstone Labs) and they all come out excellent-with quality fluids this engine/transmission will practically run forever.

Other than fluid changes I've done 3 tune ups, 2 sets of front/one set of rear brakes, a catalytic converter, 5 sets of tires, light bulbs and O2 sensors.

I have absolutely no complaints about this Jeep at all. The body is still in excellent condition and looks like it has 50-60K on it rather than over 200K.

Faults:

Plastic cover on hatchback fell off.

Center brake light assembly came loose.

Driver side seat belt refused to latch.

Gear shift knob comes off in your hand intermittently.

Replaced alternator at about 130,000 miles.

Had overheating issues for a while. (Replaced radiator with 3 core unit and have had no problems with it since...)

General Comments:

This car is no speed demon. But you can fit a surprising amount of gear in it. The list above might seem like a lot, but this has really been one of the most reliable vehicles I have ever had.

It recently started jerking slightly (suspect clogged fuel filter) and the fan started making ugly noises shortly before it died.

I am about to switch to a higher mpg vehicle since I commute 160+ miles per day and would much rather get mpg in the high 30s than the low 20s. Overall I would recommend these vehicles...

Faults:

Apparently I inherited a few minor, more annoying things from the previous owner, who had a minor front end collision (but wasn't on carfax!!) The steering wheel 'clunks' when you turn it (I've narrowed it down to a bad u-joint on the steering shaft)...but the alignment is very close to perfect.

Fuel line ruptured (probably from off-roading :) ). Easy, $0 fix. Cut bad part of hose, and reattached.

Oil pressure sending unit went out. About $25 for the part, 5 minutes for the install.

I get a pretty nasty 'clunk' from the rear when I go over bigger bumps. Most people think it's a bad leaf spring bushing.

Blower motor went out on me recently (haven't fixed it yet).

Minor cosmetic things that need to be taken care of.

General Comments:

I love it. The stock capabilities of this Jeep are amazing. It really can go anywhere. The Cherokee made it through a muddy/marshy area where my friend's lifted F-150 got stuck...twice.

The 4.0 I6 is a rock-solid, bullet-proof engine. It's a shame they're discontinuing production in June of 2006, I believe. The torque curve is nice and flat, and has plenty of power for getting up on the highway. Mine has 110k miles on it, and it still runs remarkably smooth.

The AW4 tranny has been flawless. No signs of aging.

Part-time 4-wheel drive (NP231 transfer case) is perfect; always engages and disengages right away. Seems like the previous owner didn't even use it.

This Jeep definitely has some cosmetic flaws, but in my opinion that gives it character. Mechanically it runs great.

For a 20-year old college student (who loves the outdoors), the XJ is a great choice. Dependable, and capable.