Jeep Grand Cherokee 1998

🚨 What to check before buying

Overall risk score: 10/10

Serious risks

• Rocker arm/roller follower failure (2011-2013): Early production had defective roller followers that could fail. Post-2013 is fixed.
• Oil cooler gasket leak: Oil filter housing gasket leaks oil. Common with age.
• Tick/tapping noise: Hydraulic lifter tick at startup. Usually harmless.
• Car is 28 years old — expect age-related wear: rubber seals, bushings, water pump, AC compressor
• Very high mileage (272,999 km) — expect suspension, drivetrain, and turbo wear. Thorough pre-purchase inspection essential.

Additional notes

• 2011-2013 Pentastar 3.6 V6 had defective rocker arms causing ticking and misfire. Also cylinder head cracks on some 2011 models. Check for engine ticking on cold start. VIN check for recall status.
• Vehicle is 15+ years old. Age-related issues: rubber seals/hoses degrade, electrical connectors corrode, suspension bushings wear. Not specific to any engine, but expect €500-1,500/year in age-related maintenance beyond normal service items.
• Any car with 200k+ km requires extra scrutiny. At this mileage: suspension components are worn (bushings, ball joints, shocks), seals and gaskets are hardened, electrical connectors corrode, and major components approach end-of-life. For luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) the cost of 200k+ km maintenance can exceed the car's value. Always get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) and budget 15-25% of purchase price for immediate maintenance.
• Grand Cherokee petrol (346 listings, avg 115k km, €19k) — many are US imports. 3.6 Pentastar V6 or 5.7 HEMI V8: oil cooler housing failures (3.6), MDS lifter tick (5.7), transfer case chain stretch at mileage. US-spec cars may have different emissions equipment. Parts availability varies — OEM Mopar parts expensive, aftermarket quality inconsistent.