Bubbles in Paint at Door Hinges

[bcupton]

I shudder to think the cost of parts and labor to replace 4 doors and the hood. $15K? I realize it’s under warranty and Jeep isn’t paying retail for their own parts..

For the guy that has brought his Jeep back multiple times you should look into what protections you may have under your state’s Lemon Law. 3 times seems like 2 times too many to me but hey..

I didn't think the lemon law applied to paint and body work? I could be totally wrong.

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[AnebuR]

Keep the JK if you like it.The JL is nice but not that nice.Ive had both.

As someone who'd had both for a while, I concur. My JLR is way nicer than my JKS, but if I was gonna go far off-grid, I'd feel much safer about not getting stranded in my JK. Not a single major issue in all my years of ownership. Most things that can break out in the field can be fixed with hand tools. Not so much on the JL, given how much more relies on electronics. There are a whole bunch of quality control and design issues on the JL that make owning one a bit of a crapshoot. Sure, you might get one that will run flawlessly. Pretty good chance you won't though. Mine had been relatively reliable for a mid-2018 production date. However, not without issues. Had to replace the radio, the passenger seat assembly twice for the same issue, rear window cause it came with tabs that were too short and now, the galvanic corrosion started.

 

[COBill]

Maybe, some day, someone at Stellanis will give us a long term warranty on this issue and fix it permanently.

That will only occur if Stellantis is losing substantial sales because of the issue.

If it's only affecting current owners, that's not really as important, as they already have your money.

 

[TheNewGuy]

I didn't think the lemon law applied to paint and body work? I could be totally wrong.

Lemon laws generally don't apply to 4-5 year old vehicles too

 

[roaniecowpony]

Anyone know if my 2018 JLUR with ~37k miles would be covered?

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

Anyone know if my 2018 JLUR with ~37k miles would be covered?

Likely not. The corrosion coverage only covers first five years of ownership (clock commences when first purchased).

 

[BRuby]

Yep - paint bubbling is covered under the FCA warranty for 5 years starting from the day it was originally purchased.

Yeah has been so stupid that certain dealers and some very idiotic forum members in this very thread and many other related threads - posted and heatedly argued for months and years that "the FCA corrosion warranty was not applicable" because:

a) Paint bubbling - specifically was not covered
b) Only holes right through metal body panels were covered
c) The FCA warranty did not specifically state this was covered
d) Then later - the FCA warranty was only valid for 3 years - not 5 years

This caused quite a few members to actually believe their buffoon BS nonsense and not get this covered and paid for by FCA. So is super unfortunate - so very stupid - so very costly. A huge disservice to all JL and JT owners. Yes those that posted this BS know who they are. Idiots all still posting on here. Some even not even owning a Jeep.

Will not point them out - but you may be surprised who they are. Just read the early years. We got ours covered 3 separate times. Last time the work was authorized by FCA a week before 5 years was up - then completed a few months after because of door panel shortages. Total cost of all warranty covered repairs was around $30K - so the 6 yo JLUR looks almost brand new.
Rant over. Haha!

 

[AnebuR]

Funny how the bubbles started popping up on my hinge about a month or two after the 5 years ran out.

 

[dogbreath650]

That will only occur if Stellantis is losing substantial sales because of the issue.

If it's only affecting current owners, that's not really as important, as they already have your money.

I have to believe that a portion of the current decrease in sales is due to this corrosion issue. I have funds available to buy one now but I'm looking elsewhere. I'm not going to pay that kind of money for a vehicle that needs significant paint/body work during the first 5 years and likely every x years after that. It's a shame since I've been a Jeep.guy for a LONG time but this is driving me away.

 

[TATER1971]

I have to believe that a portion of the current decrease in sales is due to this corrosion issue. I have funds available to buy one now but I'm looking elsewhere. I'm not going to pay that kind of money for a vehicle that needs significant paint/body work during the first 5 years and likely every x years after that. It's a shame since I've been a Jeep.guy for a LONG time but this is driving me away.

Completely agree. I would love a JL but there's no way I'm dealing with that nonsense, and especially given the price.

 

[Senior_Chief]

I shudder to think the cost of parts and labor to replace 4 doors and the hood. $15K? I realize it’s under warranty and Jeep isn’t paying retail for their own parts..

For the guy that has brought his Jeep back multiple times you should look into what protections you may have under your state’s Lemon Law. 3 times seems like 2 times too many to me but hey..

Dealer said north of $12K for 4 doors, swing gate, windshield frame & window, and all hinges. The hood was done a year earlier at cost unknown.

 

[BRuby]

Can fully understand the sentiment and reasoning not to buy a JL because of these corrosion issues.

As you can be sure the beancounters at FCA Stellantis know exactly what the Warranty cost has been to deal with this ongoing issue. By comparing that to their "profit margins of new JL and JT sales" year over year.

So based on their loss of brand reputation - actual bottom lines - sales projections - etc for upcoming years they make a business decision to "fix this issue to what degree and at what business cost" for the current year.

Currently adding shims under hinges has been the only visible change.

Now many know "firsthand" the corrosion also pops up along the leading edge of the hood and seams etc. As well as bottom of doors and seams etc. Plus some other areas as well.

So "adding shims under hinges is a good delay tactic" to keep most of this corrosion problem at bay and out of sight - until AFTER the Warranty expires.

For us - corrosion started at the door hinges starting about year 2. So we got it fixed under warranty. Then progressed to the hood hinges after year 3. So we got that fixed under warranty. Then progressed to hood leading and side edges - plus door panel bottom edges in year 5.

Costs got so expensive using third party body shops and car rental agencies - our Dealer "stopped taking in any corrosion warranty claims". Forcing us to find a Dealer farther away with a body shop attached.

So the idea to pass on a JL makes some sense. But even with all this corrosion BS - cannot imagine not having this JL in the stable. As it is super capable getting up and down ski resorts in deep snowstorms like nothing for us. Even on crap half-worn KO2s many despise!

Bottom Line. Basically yes corrosion is a minus - but overall the JL is more of a plus. So it has been the right decision for us to keep this vs unload this POS. Joking. Not. Haha!

 

[COBill]

I have to believe that a portion of the current decrease in sales is due to this corrosion issue. I have funds available to buy one now but I'm looking elsewhere. I'm not going to pay that kind of money for a vehicle that needs significant paint/body work during the first 5 years and likely every x years after that. It's a shame since I've been a Jeep.guy for a LONG time but this is driving me away.

We think that, but I’ll bet the vast majority of those walking onto a Jeep dealer’s lot have never heard of the issue.

 

[roaniecowpony]

We think that, but I’ll bet the vast majority of those walking onto a Jeep dealer’s lot have never heard of the issue.

What a lot more people have likely heard is the generalized quality issues and customer satisfaction feedback. The "car" publications and other consumer blogs I saw rate the JL from mid to very low in quality, reliability, repair costs, etc.

 

[Old Dogger]

As I have stated before, I really wanted to purchase a new 392. The cost was not a major issue to me, but my age, plus the lack of quality going into these Wranglers, I decided it was in my best interest to just keep the wranglers that we own in the Family. Obviously, the paint issue is a pain in the ass to deal with. And even worse, if the Factory won't pay for it. Plus the Factory really doesn't seem to have a permanent fix for it. Well..I for one am not going to be sucked into that nightmare! Those that want it, then please go for it! Good Luck!!!!!!!

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