The Jeep CJ-5 is a vehicle built from 1981 to 1983. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the CJ-5 is
The Jeep CJ-5 is a vehicle that Jeep built from 1981 to 1983 — 3 model years. Its closest siblings in the Jeep range: Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee.
Jeep CJ-5 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment CJ-5 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Jeep CJ-5 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The CJ-5 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jeep CJ-5. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | CJ-5 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 2 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jeep CJ-5?
The CJ-5 is a vehicle, built from 1981 to 1983.
What is the Jeep CJ-5 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the CJ-5 reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific CJ-5?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Jeep
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler | 1986–2026 | 285 | 25 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1993–2026 | 332 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 1981–2026 | 221 | 37 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jeep Gladiator | 2020–2026 | 34 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jeep Compass | 2006–2026 | 47 | 27 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jeep Wagoneer | 1981–2025 | 61 | 97 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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