Clutch Recall (FCA W12 | 20V-124) on 2018-2020 JL Manuals [overheating clutch pressure plate]

[vince murphy]

You might have a case. If you go through this forum, Instagram and other social media platforms you can find a quite a few manuals that went up in flames. No doubt related to the recall. Some even took pictures of the exploded bell housing.

I used to talk with a guy on Instagram that had his go up. This was only the 2nd one I had seen so was early on with this whole ordeal. He gave up on the legal route since insurance paid out anyway.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...lt-of-transmission-failure.46100/post-1013332

1st page the OP has some photos and other links to more cases of this happening as well. Not to mention the gladiator cases.

Thank you, What type of lawyer would deal with something like this?

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[vince murphy]

Pics or it didn't happen...

 

[Toycrusher]

Apologies

 

[Torero]

I have a 2018 JL that spontaneously went up in flames after 5,000 miles. It had only been serviced one time for an oil change at a jeep dealer. It is a manual transmission and they initially denied my claim but now I'm convinced I should get an attorney to try and get a new jeep or a refund based on the recall. Can you guys recommend me what steps to take? I already had a lawyer that initially represented me and now jeep only will allow me to speak through my attorney with the legal department. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I don’t get it. 5,000 miles your Jeep burns and what? Did insurance pay for it? What did they say was the cause? How could it not be covered under warranty?

 

[vince murphy]

I don’t get it. 5,000 miles your Jeep burns and what? Did insurance pay for it? What did they say was the cause? How could it not be covered under warranty?

So I went over to a small elective training deployment overseas and my insurance was not renewed and i didn't have insurance for a short period of time. I called Jeep and they had a third party investigate the situation and they were "unable to determine the cause" so jeep refused to cover it. That said i have been paying on it since and it is literally a total loss. I have it stored in a friends garage but am now financially in a place that i might be able to pursue legal action.

 

[ChromeToaster]

sorry to hear about your loss can you provide any more details for us? Where you able to determine the cause was clutch related, did jeep give a reason for not helping etc.

 

[ChromeToaster]

So I went over to a small elective training deployment overseas and my insurance was not renewed and i didn't have insurance for a short period of time. I called Jeep and they had a third party investigate the situation and they were "unable to determine the cause" so jeep refused to cover it. That said i have been paying on it since and it is literally a total loss. I have it stored in a friends garage but am now financially in a place that i might be able to pursue legal action.

you should get under it and see what the transmission bell housing looks like, if its shattered I would get a lawyer tomorrow and have them get you a new jeep plus money lost for time wasted dealing with it, making payments etc... there should be no reason a basically new jeep would just explode and not be covered unless were missing something.

 

[vince murphy]

you should get under it and see what the transmission bell housing looks like, if its shattered I would get a lawyer tomorrow and have them get you a new jeep plus money lost for time wasted dealing with it, making payments etc... there should be no reason a basically new jeep would just explode and not be covered unless were missing something.

that is a great idea! I'll post pictures of the housing tomorrow.

 

[vince murphy]

sorry to hear about your loss can you provide any more details for us? Where you able to determine the cause was clutch related, did jeep give a reason for not helping etc.

I don't know how to diagnose the cause but i am going to look at the housing tomorrow. Jeep said they wouldn't cover it because the third party was unsure of the cause of the fire.

 

[Mtpockets]

Looks like the fire was concentrated on the passenger side where all the electrical is located. Maybe mice got in there and chewed up the wiring? My neighbor has a big mouse problem and chewed up his new Honda Civic to the point where it wouldn’t start. He rarely drove it. Towed to the Dealer, said he was lucky it didn’t catch on fire.
I hope you can prove it was the clutch. I hope you get paid. Looked like a nice Jeep.

 

[MyDaughters20JL]

I'll just request the cash instead for parts & labor and buy the Centerforce I'm sure FCA will oblige haha

I don't recall where, but somewhere, there is a form requesting reimbursement for warranty work..might not hurt to fill one out, requesting replacement with a centerforce..maybe with Stellantis taking things over, they'll agree to pay for the centerforce & pay a shop to install it
if it works, perfect, if not, at least you tried

 

[saltyjeeplife]

Did anyone save the last recall letter for the clutch test? I'm just going off of memory but It seems that the wording was very similar.

My letter said no known fix. I called my dealer to "get in line" and they told me about the software fix. (Got in line because my father had a similar issue with his ram where a recall was put out before parts where available and he waited 4 months, dealer had told him other people were ahead of him on a wait list). My service rep said it had been updated that morning in their system (March 9). I grumbled about it and they agreed they didn't think it was a good fix. They referred me to Jeep's recall help line, where they confirmed the software was what engineers decided was the best solution to the problem and that there would be no further options available.

I will say that In all fairness of 33k units sold with a manual in 3 years, only 30 have had any known issues as a result. So .001% of products really isn't terrible statistics. BUT to me it is the principle of it. Rather than address the real problem, they want to limit the power. Which to me doesn't make sense, because if I'm underpowered until it cools, I feel more friction would be applied because I'll be forced to ride the clutch.

 

[vince murphy]

you should get under it and see what the transmission bell housing looks like, if its shattered I would get a lawyer tomorrow and have them get you a new jeep plus money lost for time wasted dealing with it, making payments etc... there should be no reason a basically new jeep would just explode and not be covered unless were missing something.

 

[DWS44]

Seems like a good lawyer ought to have a field day with that evidence, given all the clutch recalls.

 

[Torero]

Wow. Unbelievable that you are in this predicament. That picture is your ticket to a new Jeep. But I would add to the complaint damages beyond the Jeep. Third party says inconclusive, while under warranty and they decided you are guilty. That’s completely backwards. Any good lawyer in the field would take your case with no charge to you.

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