JeepWagoneer1974Overview/jeep/wagoneer/1974/base/

1974 Jeep Wagoneer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1974 Wagoneer.

The 1974 Jeep Wagoneer is a classic body/platform/engine combination that has long been celebrated for its ruggedness and spaciousness; its 1974 incarnation, while not directly covered by the complaint data that begins in 1990, sits just before the era in which the Wagoneer line’s reliability record began to be systematically tracked. In the years that are documented, the Wagoneer’s reputation fluctuates, with a striking peak of 188 complaints in 2022 and a surprisingly low 1 complaint in 1992, illustrating a broad range of owner experiences that would have influenced how the 1974 model was perceived in later decades. This context underscores that the 1974 Wagoneer, positioned just before the 1990s reliability reporting, was part of the foundational generation that shaped the brand’s long‑term durability narrative.

Model year202520242023202219901989198819871974

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.9 in
Overall width75.6 in
Overall height65.4 in
Wheelbase109.1 in
Curb weight4270 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

9.1–16.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1987 Limited
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1984Limited 2.5L I-415.70 sec20.00 sec105 hp4x4
1963SUV 3.8L I-616.10 sec20.50 sec140 hp4x4
1987Limited 4.0L I-69.10 sec17.00 sec173 hp4x4

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

87V178000Visibility:Glass, Side/RearReported 23/11/1987

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.

74V040000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power AssistReported 04/03/1974

Remedy:

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Wagoneer. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1974 Wagoneer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.