Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1973 Wagoneer.
The 1973 Jeep Wagoneer, documented with a single owner complaint focused on tires and a lone recall, aligns with the lowest annual complaint count in the model's history from 1990 to 2025—where the minimum was one (1992) and the maximum was 188 (2022). This places the 1973 year at the most reliable end of that recorded range, a standout position given the model's broader fluctuation in owner-reported issues.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 193.7 in |
| Overall width | 78.7 in |
| Overall height | 69.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 120.1 in |
| Curb weight | 3810 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Wagoneer of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | SUV 3.8L I-6 | 16.10 sec | 20.50 sec | 140 hp | 4x4 |
| 1984 | Limited 2.5L I-4 | 15.70 sec | 20.00 sec | 105 hp | 4x4 |
| 1987 | Limited 4.0L I-6 | 9.10 sec | 17.00 sec | 173 hp | 4x4 |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1973 Jeep Wagoneer shows only one tire complaint and zero crash or fire complaints in the provided federal data. The year-by-year record contains no entries for model years preceding 1973; the subsequent years form two distinct clusters. A 1990–2001 grouping peaked at 19 complaints and 5 recalls in 1990 before receding to single digits, while a 2022–2025 grouping surged to 188 complaints and 9 recalls. Falling well before the 1990 peak and entirely outside the 2022–2025 surge, the 1973 model sits at the quietest extreme of the documented arc, and the data does not specify what drove the later increases. Concrete takeaway: From a federal-record standpoint, 1973 is a favorable year to buy, carrying minimal documented complaints and none of the recall volume seen in later reporting years, though buyers must still plan for mechanical renewal beyond the scope of this data.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE KEY OPERATED TAILGATE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IF THE SPRING LOADED KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO OFF POSITION WHEN RELEASED. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE KEY IN TAILGATE OF UNATTENDED VEHICLE. REPAIR MECHANISM TO ASSURE PROPER KEY RETURN OPERATION.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.