Faults:

Heater core (common on these).

Radiator (recommend a full aluminum radiator to prevent further issues).

While doing the heater core, I replaced the noisy blower motor as well as the water pump, thermostat, and as mentioned above, the radiator and hoses.

Starter.

Soft top was replaced (they all go).

Fender was replaced due to corrosion (common in NY).

Frame rotting from the inside out. Wherever there's salt (Salt belt***) east coast USA.

General Comments:

I love my Jeep. It is very capable offroad and in the snow. Anyone who buys a Jeep knows it is not a fuel efficient or practical vehicle. With that being said, I love it and drive it 40+ miles a day. Aside from the typical small Jeep hiccups, it's a great vehicle. Turns heads everywhere I go (lifted 3" with 32s).

These rot from inside the frame out. Check the inside to see if it's all rusty. A finger in the frame hole will tell you if it's worth buying.

Faults:

Starter.

O2 sensor.

Radiator.

Heater motor.

Swaybar end links.

General Comments:

The 2004 Wrangler Sport with the Dana44 rear axle and 5 speed manual trans, is reliable and extremely capable in the sand, snow and mud. Always thought it was sort of stupid to thrash your car over rocks for fun, but if you're ever in a situation where you are forced to do that, I can't think of a production vehicle for this price that could do it better. I've used my Jeep on the beach for the last 5 summers, and it has done everything I've asked of it, with comical ease. Soft sand, deep ruts, gravel, steep dunes, pulling out stuck vehicles, it has done it all. It goes without saying that it's pretty cool to do all of that with no roof, and the doors off.

As other reviewers have said, owning a Jeep needs to be taken in context. It's not an especially great car for interstate travel or long distances. There also isn't a lot of interior room. Tons of accessories exist to increase this, but you can spend a LOT of money getting your Jeep to carry as much as a simple Honda CRV, and it will only carry 4 people no matter how much you customize it.

I will say that the only capacity I've used my Jeep in is to drive 2 miles/day total to the train station, errands around town, and of course trips onto the beach in the Summer. I can see using a Jeep for an average commute becoming really tedious, and forget about it being a daily kid-hauler.

If you like to do your own maintenance and repairs, there aren't many easier or cheaper vehicles to work on. Beware of rust if you venture to look at buying one.

In the end, if you can fit a Jeep Wrangler TJ into your life as a short range errand runner or for required off road use, there isn't a better, cooler or more fun vehicle. It becomes that old dog you can't ever imagine getting rid of.

Faults:

Replaced radiator cap due to leak, pressure valve was bad.

General Comments:

So far I really like the jeep. It is a jeep and not for everybody, but for me it is great! It is great off road and will crawl up and down about anything you dare to tangle with.