Odometer rolled over 100,000 today on I64 E at milepost 170.7 at 12:06pm. engine hour meter says 2550. I bought the truck new on 11/23/02. Now I know that I have closer to 104385 due to changing over to 315s at 50621 miles.
since 50,000 miles I have put in 2929.958 gallons of fuel, which works out to 18.563 MPG when accounting for the tire size error. I am pretty happy with the mileage so far considering the amount of towing and city driving I have done. Now the towing hasn't been a 10,000 fifth wheel, but it has been varying weights from 2500 to 8000.
Oil has been changed 8 times and is now due.
Fuel filter has been changed 6 times and is now due
I changed over to redline synthetics in the tranny, axles, and t-case at about 50,200 miles. and are due to be changed again.
about 70,000 miles or so has been with an Edge EZ
Failures-----
2823 miles--- power steering pump and high pressure line replaced--- warranty
4728 miles--- Mirror popped out of housing on passenger side, replaced---warranty
33100 miles--- clutch TSB, alt bracket TSB, reverse light switch not working--- warranty
51368 miles--- Harmonic balancer wobbling, replaced --- warranty
53007 miles--- middle U-joint in driveshaft shot---warranty
59779 miles--- front and rear U-joints in driveshaft shot---warranty
69890 miles--- Drivers side u-joint in front axle shot--- warranty denied...

i don't remember what the dates where but I also hit a deer, which did very little damage and backed into a tree, which did more damage. these were both last fall at somewhere around 80,000 miles, both happened inside of a week

Overall i am so pleased with the truck. The very few problems were taken care of quickly and the truck has really stood up to alot. we have moved 3 times and used it to the max on all three moves.
I would have to say my only disappointments to date were the length of time it took to repair the power steering and the 4 u-joint failures and the mileage lately towing a 3000 motorcycle trailer. It's as bad or worse that it used to be towing my Jeep that weighed more than double and sat taller on the trailer. Driving with the A/C on sometimes has a nasty vibration, but I don't use is alot, so no big deal.

I would definitely buy this truck again, in fact I can't imagine how I did without it/a truck for so many years.

 

2,550 hours and 100,000 miles? I went out and checked my hour meter and it was 558 and I barely have 12k

Congrats and I hope you get many more out of your beast.

 

Awesome on your luck. How is your clutch holding up after 100,000? John I have 10,400 on my 05 and I have 324 hours.

 

When i traded in my 03 at 153K. I had no repairs performed. Two TSB's were performed,cracked alternaer bracket ,and power steering hose. The clutch was still strong. I towed about 8K,for most of those miles. I would not be pleased with the with the performance of rob's truck. Too many problems in my opinion,but maybe I'm too picky.

 

clutch is good, brakes are good. second set of tires, first ones were the stock BFGs and they were taken off a little premature due to a trip to PA in Jan.
I guess I am still happy because none of the repairs have been anything that was a BIG deal. I have had two '97 Jeep Wranglers, first year of the new style and both were complete pieces of crap and were in the shop as much as I had them. I had a chrysler concorde and dodge intrepid, both went through trannies, the concorde at 61,000 miles...
So yeah, at almost 105,000 miles and using the truck the way I do, I'll take a couple of silly TSBs that take a few minutes and a few u-joints. Obviously I'd really prefer to do without the u-joint failures, there is really no reason for it at all. I do find that to be pathetic. but looking at the overall number of trips to the shop, and that they were all very minor and quick(except the PS pump and hose) I am really happy especially considering when my truck was purchased, it was very soon after the change over from 2nd gens.

 

I agree with the u-joints, I had to have the rear 2 replaced at 40k. I think that is a little premature, especially seeing as how I haven't towed over 4k.

Nick

 

Rob, The U joint failures worry me a bit. Were any of them catastrophic failures or did they go bad over time? I do a lot of rural driving. I don't want to be stranded far off the main road. Thanks.

 

No nothing dramatic at all about the u-joints. the first one started a little shudder feeling on take off the day before it went. then a nasty vibe minutes before it almost locked up. Truuck felt like it had square tires. But nothing else gave way. The second 2 I felt the same type of vibe and drove it straight to the shop. The axle joint started squeaking badly. I took it to the shop and they put it on the lift and spun the tire about half way before it stopped and the mechanic had to force it the rest of the way. It took quite a shove to make it around... They attempted to make the repair but wanted me to pay for new hub and bearing assembly, rotor and brakes They said it was too rusty and they couldn't get it all apart without breaking things I refused. They put it back together and I took it home. I took the wheel off to soak it all in PB Blaster and you would not believe how badly they beat the hell out of the rotor. It was absolutely trashed. I ended up with a new set of rotors for free but no u-joint repair. I still have not replaced that joint. I spray it down with blaster everytime it starts to squeak and bind, it instantly goes away.

 

ALL those things went wrong and its a TWO thumbs up? I know 03s out there with well OVER a 100k with nothing but a couple of TSB'S done and TWO sets of tires!

 

That's not that bad considering he's driven 8 years worth of miles in 3 years!

 

I just passed the 49,000 mile mark (49,100 to be exact). I have 970 hours on my truck, and I took deliver of it on 09/10/05 with 24 miles on the odometer. About 80% of those miles have been with a trailer attached, and this summer has been non-stop towing as I have been towing cars around the country for my summer job. To date, I have had the ECM flash TSB, had to have the alignment done (steering wheel was off-center), and had the window stripping TSB. Other than that, it's just been changing the fuel and air filters, as well as the motor oil, tranny fluid, and diff fluid. This truck is a real joy, and the more miles I put on it the more I love it. It's been an extremely dependable beast.

Now that I said that, it'll probably blow up tomorrow!

 

8 years worth of miles? Average driver drives 25k a year.I would expect most new autos today to pass 100k with little more then maintance,tires and brake linings.All those u/joint failures and harmonic balancer kills the TWO thumbs up to me.

 

The avg driver drives 25,000 miles a year??? Where did you hear that? I'd say the avg is closer to 12-15,000 miles a year...

 

It WAS that over a decade ago or better.The 25k average was in 2000 or 2001

 

I don't know that the harmonic balancer NEEDED to be replaced. I saw it had the slightest wobble look to it, so I mentioned it. Dealership may have just had a slow day or they knew it was something that wouldn't be questioned by any DC reps.
I'm glad that there are alot of guys out there with well over 100k and no repairs. That is alot of highway driving. alot of the same rpms in the same gear and little brake use. You have to admit, that usage is MUCH easier on alot of parts of the truck, and Much harder on some parts.

My write up is to let they guys that use their trucks everyday, normal everyday usage, getting in and out, shutting it down and starting up, stop and go, up tailgate down tailgate. These trucks do what they are supposed to do and do it well.


I personally have never heard of any vehicle that made it to 100k without a single repair. But then again I have never had great luck with cars going repair free... you wouldn't want to see the list of repairs my 97 wrangler had, all before warranty was up. In fact I traded it in with 35, 776 because I was afraid to own it without a warranty

Really makes me want to start a poll on the number of repairs that 3rd gens each have. I'd bet mine, mile for mile would be about average.