Of the many vehicles on the road today, Jeeps are some of the most recognizable, given their notoriety. Founded in 1941, with the original purpose of being used by the army and eventually transitioning to the consumer division, many makes and models have been released over the years. The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee, in particular, with sub-variants such as the Trail Hawk achieving fame, have become much-desired cars on the road.

However, introduced in just the last decade, the Jeep Renegade has caught the attention of drivers worldwide. As more prospective used and new car buyers consider their next purchase, many have begun to wonder about the performance and reliability of this comparatively new Jeep model. Learn everything you need to know about the Jeep Renegade and its reliability here.

Maintenance Costs: An Overview

When shopping for a new vehicle, prospective buyers often forget that the sticker price is not the total price of the car in the long run. Maintenance costs can increase the “true” cost of a vehicle over a long-term horizon to something that is actually unaffordable for some, which is why identifying those costs is so important.

Maintenance costs are defined as those associated with routine maintenance services, as well as the costs associated with unexpected repairs. Oil changes, tire rotations, fluid top-offs, windshield wiper blade replacements, and even car washes are all examples of maintenance tasks on a vehicle. The costs associated with these tasks, as well as those with repair jobs, will vary from vehicle to vehicle, which is why evaluating these prices for every car you are considering is crucial.

Parts Prices: Breaking Down the Costs

Before diving into the specific costs associated with general maintenance of a Jeep Renegade, it’s worth first looking at the cost of parts that most commonly break down. While the list below can vary depending on your daily driving habits, the Jeep Renegade parts listed are the ones that you should keep an eye on the most. Each of the cost estimations will be derived from RepairPal estimates custom to the subcompact SUV itself:

• Brakes and Rotors: The brakes and rotors are naturally some of the most important parts of a vehicle. For the Jeep Renegade, the replacement cost of brake pads alone can be over $500 and up to $750 for the rotors.
• Tires: The tires on your Renegade will vary in cost depending on whether they are off-roading tires or road tires, but an average replacement cost of $150 per tire is a safe bet.
• Air Filters: An air filter is one of the few parts where you can breathe a sigh of relief as its average replacement cost is only around $60 for the Jeep Renegade.
• Suspension: For those who regularly take their Renegade off-roading, it’s important to remember your suspension. The replacement cost for a suspension on this vehicle can be $1,000, with labor costing as much as $400.
• Side Step Bars: To keep with the theme of off-roading, new side step bars will cost around $400.
• Headlights: Headlights are a mid-tier repair task on the Jeep Renegade, costing around $150-$215 for the total replacement.
• Lift Kits: Finally, if you plan on raising your Renegade off the ground for off-roading, you should expect to pay around $1,000, though it can go as high as $1,700, depending on the specifics of the job.

The cost of replacing parts on your Jeep Renegade is clearly higher than most would think, which is why it’s so important to spend the lower maintenance costs on a regular basis to ensure the parts under the hood stay in good shape.

Service Intervals: Regular Maintenance Needs

As alluded to, regular maintenance is the key to maintaining the longevity of a vehicle. The Jeep Renegade is no exception. To ensure you are driving your small SUV for years to come, consider the following maintenance advice:

Manufacturer’s Recommended Service Schedule

First and foremost, it’s important to listen to the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. The dealership you choose to purchase your renegade at will likely tell you this schedule, but you should bring your vehicle in at 10,000 miles, 20,000 miles, 40,000 miles, 60,000 miles, and 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

Every maintenance checkpoint will include servicing tasks for the battery, brake system, cooling system, and exhaust system and, if necessary, replacing the engine air filter. Beyond this, the early checkups will mainly involve inspecting tire conditions and the specs of your vehicle, as well as topping off fluid levels.

As your vehicle’s mileage begins to go up, more important components will need to be inspected, such as the cylinder engine, cruise control features, safety features, electrical system, spark plug replacements, and more.

Additional Maintenance

Given that many Jeep Renegade owners take their vehicle off-road, there are some additional maintenance tasks you should ensure are taken care of. Rotating the tires on your Renegade every 6,000-8,000 miles is a great rule of thumb. Additionally, you should have the shocks and struts inspected on your suspension at least every 12,000 miles, but sooner if you frequently take it off-road.

Are Jeep Renegades Reliable?: A Look at Common Repairs

Unfortunately, the Renegade is not an anomaly and does have a history of reported issues. These common issues, along with their associated repair costs, include:

• Alternator replacement: $800 – $1,000
• Brake master cylinder replacement: $650 – $700
• Oxygen sensor replacement: $215
• Tire pressure monitor control module replacement: $315 – $330

Reliability: How Does the Renegade Hold Up?

Still, with all of the above costs taken into account, the actual question of how reliable the Jeep Renegade is has not been answered. After all, if the Renegade is known for never breaking down, then the costs above don’t matter. On the other hand, if a vehicle is prone to breaking down, then the repair costs must be taken more seriously. Let’s look at some of the reliability information available on the Renegade.

Reliability Ratings

The reliability ratings for the Jeep Renegade will vary from source to source; however, the consistency is that the scores are higher than average. RepairPal estimates the Renegade to have a reliability score of 4/5. Newer models of the Renegade have scored around 77 out of 100 from J.D. Power. Overall, the Renegade routinely receives above-average reliability scores as compared to other vehicles in the same class. Despite this, it is still considered to be unreliable due to the number of recalls that have occurred in recent history.

Owner Reviews

Building off of the reliability ratings above, the Renegade has received fairly solid reviews from owners throughout different model years. For example, customers from Carmax indicate that the vehicle has an impressive fuel economy (MPG), strong power, and is extremely comfortable. One of the most common complaints the vehicle receives on sites such as Edmunds, though, is the fact that the spare tire you are provided with is not full-sized, meaning if you are stranded somewhere, it can be difficult to get somewhere safe.

Final Thoughts

Given the evidence, the Renegade may be a reliable vehicle worth purchasing if you take care of it. Be aware, though, that no matter how reliable a car is, it’s still a machine. This means it can still break down, which is why having protection in place is important.

Extended Warranties: Mitigating Maintenance Costs

With Endurance Warranty, there are many auto protection plans to consider. The standout three, in particular, are the Supreme, Superior, and Secure Plus plans. Starting with the last, the Secure Plus plan is geared towards older vehicles. It offers targeted protection for only the most important parts under the hood, such as the engine, transmission, and air conditioning. It’s perfect for a well-used Jeep Renegade.

The Superior plan takes things up a notch and provides additional protection for the parts that most commonly break down. This plan is an excellent balance of value for money for those who are more budget-conscious. Those seeking total, near bumper-to-bumper protection should consider the Supreme plan, which offers coverage for parts as big as the engine and all the way down to parts such as gaskets and hoses.

Regardless, Endurance plans are fully customizable, which means you can design a plan to suit your specific needs based on how you drive your Renegade.

Financial Protection

The benefit of an extended warranty is that it pays for repair costs associated with covered repairs in the event of a mechanical breakdown. This means that if you have the engine covered under your warranty package and it fails randomly on you one day, you don’t need to worry about a multi-thousand dollar repair cost. The peace of mind offered by Endurance auto protection plans is unparalleled.

Tips for Reducing Maintenance Costs

While certain vehicle service contracts, such as Advantage, may come with limited maintenance cost benefits, they are few and far between. To save the most money on maintenance for your used car, follow these three tips:

1. Regular Maintenance: Whether your car is a Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler, Ford, Kia, Jeep, or some other brand, you need to take care of regular maintenance on it. This means following the indicated schedule from the dealership and performing general maintenance tasks such as car washes, replacing windshield wiper blades, and more.
2. Using High-Quality Parts: When you modify your Renegade, especially if they are geared towards off-roading, always ensure that the parts you use are of the utmost quality. It doesn’t matter if the parts are American or foreign; ensure they have solid reviews and a lengthy history.
3. Finding a Reliable Mechanic: Finally, if your car needs to be repaired, you want to have a reliable mechanic you can go to. Endurance partners with certified shops around the country that must meet many credentials, which is another benefit of partnering with us.

Owning a vehicle is not cheap, and the MSRP you see on the window is only the tip of the iceberg. Extended car warranty costs may seem unnecessary at the moment, but consider how many parts are under the hood and how likely they are to break down over time. Both your safety and your wallet should invest in an extended warranty contract that covers you effectively.

Protect Your Jeep Renegade With Endurance

No driver wants to realize that the vehicle they just purchased is unreliable. This can lead to both safety concerns and concerns regarding your wallet. While the Jeep Renegade may be a reliable vehicle based on consumer reviews and its history, taking things to the next level by protecting your car with a vehicle service contract is a great step.

Endurance Warranty offers a variety of auto protection plans for drivers to choose from, which means you can customize a plan to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re seeking maximum protection for your renegade with a comprehensive plan or a more part-specific plan, there’s something at Endurance for you.

In addition to the perks offered by each of our vehicle service contracts, each plan also comes with 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage. Activate a year of our additional Elite Benefits package – a $2,000 value – for more bonuses such as up to four tire repairs and replacements per year, key fob replacement, total loss protection up to $1,000, and more.

To see how Endurance can keep you protected on the road, contact one of our plan advisors at (800) 253-8203 or request a FREE quote online. Alternatively, you can shop in our eStore to see your plan recommendations and pricing right away.

Visit the Endurance Warranty blog for more automotive FAQs and helpful articles on comparable Hondas, Nissans, and other vehicles.