Bubbles in Paint at Door Hinges

[The Fixer]

What I'm wondering is if I would really drive away without a care or if I would be responsible for it if I turn it in as it is.

You would be responsible if it was dented/scratched from wheeling or other abuse, but they can't blame corrosion on the owner. In the end, that damage is all ~under~ the paint, which we cannot control. The lessee would not be able to damage the paint there, especially if it's factory paint and was never involved in a collision that required paint/bodywork.

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[krazyboi]

You would be responsible if it was dented/scratched from wheeling or other abuse, but they can't blame corrosion on the owner. In the end, that damage is all ~under~ the paint, which we cannot control. The lessee would not be able to damage the paint there, especially if it's factory paint and was never involved in a collision that required paint/bodywork.

This is what it says in the lease end guide on the difference between normal wear and excess wear. I would be responsible for any excess wear. I am wondering if the bubbles and cracks would be considered as "defect that reduces market appeal or impairs vehicle appearance."

 

[LCW]

Just FYI...I don't have paint bubbling around hinges yet. I unbolted hinges(door/hood) Primed with aluminum primer, painted back of hinge and door. I made a gasket with 14 mil 3M paint protector film and bolted back together. Not sure how this will work, but it's better than nothing.

How do you keep the painted bolts from chipping when removing?

 

[The Fixer]

This is what it says in the lease end guide on the difference between normal wear and excess wear. I would be responsible for any excess wear. I am wondering if the bubbles and cracks would be considered as "defect that reduces market appeal or impairs vehicle appearance."

Ah, I see what you're saying. While that is true, it is "a defect that reduces the market appeal and impairs vehicle appearance", that defect happened way back on the assembly line in Toledo. It has absolutely nothing to do with how the lessee maintained the vehicle, and was not caused by the lessee. We know this from the 140+ page thread on this forum...many of the vehicles suffering from this paint bubbling problem live in garages year round, have low mileage, and are even from areas that don't have winter or bad weather.

I don't see how they could hold you (or me, or any other lessee) responsible, especially since you brought it to their attention months ago.

 

[mini2nut]

How do you keep the painted bolts from chipping when removing?

Great question. I was initially thinking about replacing the bolts with stainless steel ones.

 

[Fireball Mojito]

How do you keep the painted bolts from chipping when removing?

I used a T50 Torx bit. Tap it in with rubber mallet. I used a 18 in cheater pipe on a ratchet. There isn't that much paint on my jeep to chip it. It came off without chipping.

 

[brewtus98]

I used a T50 Torx bit. Tap it in with rubber mallet. I used a 18 in cheater pipe on a ratchet. There isn't that much paint on my jeep to chip it. It came off without chipping.

Yeah, my Torx bits are more rounded on the edges vs some that are sharper. Took the tailgate hinges off to replace the gate with NO CHIPPING at all.

 

[dpsanborn]

I am starting the lawyer route today. I need to clean my hands of this. I have spent hours and trying to get everyone together to get this resolved and Jeep and the dealer do not want to talk to each other and I am just getting the run around from both sides which is sad. I contacted Jeep and opened a case and they said that the dealer only submitted 3 photos. one of the odometer and 2 of my hinges so the $1500 is to fix the hinges. The dealers qoute from their 3rd party auto body shop estimate is for $7k since the bubbling is on all the doors, hood and back door. I contacted the auto body shop and they sent me the 40 pics they took with circles and details on the pics. They said they did not take a picture of the dash and odometer so that must be the dealers pics. Jeep customer care told me that if the dealer just submitted the pics it would be approved for the whole amount, so I went down to dealer to explain that to them and they stand by the fact that they sent everything and submitted everything and there is nothing more that can done. So I am in the same position of Jeep telling me the dealer is wrong and the dealer telling me Jeep is wrong. Beware of Paramus Jeep Chrysler in Paramus, NJ on RT4. Doing research I found that they have a really bad reputation of screwing their customers over and I completely get that vibe when I am there. I really regret buying my Jeep there. I went other dealers and talked to other service managers and they explained that they do not take warranty paint work unless you bought the car from them. So they take care of their own customers and they all said that Paramus Jeep where I bought my Wrangler has the reputation of not doing that. Live and learn. Never in my life would I ever think getting something covered under warranty so difficult to get fixed.

I attached the pics that the auto body shop took and gave to the dealer. they are very detailed and you can see how bad it is and why I am so frustrated that the dealer and Jeep are doing this to me.

I have been dealing with Alex Vargas at Paramus Jeep at Rt4 and he never called me once the whole 2 months they had my Wrangler and has not been willing to help me at all. His advise to me was to go try and get it fixed myself and get Jeep to pay for it. Thanks Alex!! The crappiest customer service I have ever had and I am in the customer service business. If we treated our customers this way we would not have any customers.

My advice is to stay clear of this dealer. Do your research and find a dealer with a good reputation even it means a farther drive.

I will continue to give updates on the what the outcome is on the legal process and let everyone know who is going through what I am going through if it resolves the issues or not.

SHAME ON YOU JEEP AND PARAMUS JEEP CHRYSLER IN PARAMUS, NJ ON RT4!!!!!!

For everyone going through the same issue I am going through, I just wanted to give an update on the legal path. I hired a lawyer the letters went out to the dealer and Jeep. I got a call from the dealer after that the warranty work is now approved and to drop it back off to get fixed. Hopefully Jeep is not making the dealer eat the repairs, but this whole paint warranty process needs to get figured out and not dumped on the customer. Hopefully it gets repaired properly and looks good when I get it back. I will give follow ups on the repairs. This has been a terrible experience for me and the first time I ever had to hire a lawyer. Sucks, but glad it is moving in the right direction now.

 

[garykk]

For everyone going through the same issue I am going through, I just wanted to give an update on the legal path. I hired a lawyer the letters went out to the dealer and Jeep. I got a call from the dealer after that the warranty work is now approved and to drop it back off to get fixed. Hopefully Jeep is not making the dealer eat the repairs, but this whole paint warranty process needs to get figured out and not dumped on the customer. Hopefully it gets repaired properly and looks good when I get it back. I will give follow ups on the repairs. This has been a terrible experience for me and the first time I ever had to hire a lawyer. Sucks, but glad it is moving in the right direction now.

Glad you finally got some satisfaction, but only after going the legal route. One question though, why do you care if the dealer has to eat the cost after they treated you so badly?

 

[dpsanborn]

Great question.. I guess I should not care either way.. They did treat me like shit. I was just thinking in general I guess if Jeep is putting it on the dealers and that is why dealers are pushing back on customers so much.

 

[LuvHydro]

I was talking with a local body shop guy.
He says super common problem and that the newer ones have a "gasket".

After listening to his opinion what a POS these things are in as far as the hidden parts, I wanted to sell it that morning.

 

[TheNewGuy]

I was talking with a local body shop guy.
He says super common problem and that the newer ones have a "gasket".

After listening to his opinion what a POS these things are in as far as the hidden parts, I wanted to sell it that morning.

So......no 392?

 

[LuvHydro]

So......no 392?

Oh, I've drank the Jeep Kool-aid now.
I do and will luv this thing, until it starts showing its true Jeep quality, then I will be in a dilemma.

Kinda like going through a relationship with a super hawt girl that turns out to be Psycho Sally and getting out relatively unscathed. Then meeting another gorgeous box-o-red-flags, you know better, but....

I think I made it past my fiscally stupid idea for a 392. My Hydro is paid off and goes like a striped-assed ape when she's stripped down.

 

[BRuby]

If this is a steel thread nut retainer attached to the aluminum door panel + a painted steel torx head screw holds the aluminum hinge to the panel - this may be the inherent factory floor problem for JLs listed in their paint bubbling corrosion TSB.

Rust eventually forms on the steel due to contact with moisture. Moisture can be present due to rain or humidity or dew etc. Galvanic corrosion occurs between the steel and aluminum dissimilar metals. The moisture slowly seeps and spreads across the bare aluminum. Both dissimilar metals continue to corrode. The aluminum starts to pit - while the steel rusts. Over time this moisture and corrosion spread across both the unpainted aluminum door hinge and door panel. The visible paint finish finally bubbles up starting from a very tiny paint bubble - to a lot of quite big paint bubbles. We got ours fixed when the paint bubbling was still quite small. Am thinking the repairs with the epoxy coating should help.

Moisture in the form of rain or humidity or dew etc + unpainted aluminum touching unpainted steel + visible paint locking in moisture and corrosion. Hmm? After 2 warranty claims am thinking this may be the cause. Positive is more and more 2018 and 2019 JLs are being covered. Unfortunately though - some needing a letter from a lawyer. My recommendation is push to get this done and paid under warranty asap. Also push to get it done properly to your satisfaction.

 

[1Evil55]

Hey thanks for the heads up. Can you keep me updated on your case? Elgin CDJR told me the same thing and they never called me back. I drove there and called them multiple times and they just keep saying that it's a complicated claim and that it takes time to fill out the forms. I ask them what is the hold up and they never go into detail about it and just say that it will take time. So frustrating. Please let me know if you are able to move forward with Roesch.

Dropping her off this weekend for a repaint next week. I'll post again with the final results.

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