Clutch Recall (2/23/23): Clutch Pressure Plate May Overheat -- Affecting 70,000 Manual Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators

[AlgUSF]

The bronco is having manual transmission problems. I believe they hauled the 7 spd manuals until a solution is found.

How did we get to this point where the "big three" in America cannot make a manual transmission equipped vehicle? This is silly.

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[Maverick909]

How did we get to this point where the "big three" in America cannot make a manual transmission equipped vehicle? This is silly.

That’s because everyone is spending the R and D money on CVT and Hybrid systems. Hell Toyota just filed a Patton for the Toyota Tacoma with a 7 speed manual with a hybrid motor setup. Rather rad that they managed this setup

 

[Tethmes]

More speculation, but talking to my dealer this morning when I dropped it off for some unrelated warranty work, they seem to be expecting parts to start rolling in around august. Whether that's just what they're telling people, or something that they've actually been told to expect is anyone's guess but I would assume the former given the complete lack of information otherwise.

 

[BuyHold]

How did we get to this point where the "big three" in America cannot make a manual transmission equipped vehicle? This is silly.

It is F$%^'IN ridiculous. So sad really.

 

[Luxy60]

If this latest fix involves new mechanical parts (i.e. clutch assembly, pressure plate, etc.) and a corresponding SW update then I can completely understand why this is taking a while given the amount of validation testing (mech, SW and system), documentation and supply chain prep required before they open the flood gates. Just because they say they've identified a fix doesn't mean it'll be ready for the field anytime soon. I don't believe this will be a third party clutch solution, it'll be, as previously mentioned, an engineering change (pressure plate material and/ or springs, etc.) to the OEM design.

 

[zrickety]

How did we get to this point where the "big three" in America cannot make a manual transmission equipped vehicle? This is silly.

Cost cutting from the suits.

 

[zrickety]

If this latest fix involves new mechanical parts (i.e. clutch assembly, pressure plate, etc.) and a corresponding SW update then I can completely understand why this is taking a while given the amount of validation testing (mech, SW and system), documentation and supply chain prep required before they open the flood gates. Just because they say they've identified a fix doesn't mean it'll be ready for the field anytime soon. I don't believe this will be a third party clutch solution, it'll be, as previously mentioned, an engineering change (pressure plate material and/ or springs, etc.) to the OEM design.

I'm getting the ACT setup, that's the magic bullet for me.

 

[JeepCares]

Sorry if this is a stupid/already (many times) answered question, but if I have a 3rd party clutch installed on a JL that is under warranty, does it void the warranty on the whole vehicle, just the clutch, or what? Cheers.

This would not void your warranty if you replaced your clutch with an aftermarket, we would not cover the clutch repair under warranty if anything does happen. Outside the basic warranty, the clutch would be consider normal maintenance. If your aftermarket clutch caused other parts and components to fail, this could cause your warranty to be voided on those parts/components.

William
Jeep Cares

 

[JeepCares]

The repair need to be a replacement. It’s extremely simple but they rather keep downing the tuning on the engine instead of fix the real problem. I would love it if Jeep would just pay the labor to replace the clutch with and ACT or Center force II clutch. I would pay for the clutch kit itself

Thank you for this feedback, as your opinion is very important to us. We will provide this to our partners, and if there are any changes, we will let all affected customers know.

William
Jeep Cares

 

[Rrushen]

This would not void your warranty if you replaced your clutch with an aftermarket, we would not cover the clutch repair under warranty if anything does happen. Outside the basic warranty, the clutch would be consider normal maintenance. If your aftermarket clutch caused other parts and components to fail, this could cause your warranty to be voided on those parts/components.

William
Jeep Cares

Thanks for the reply/info William. One more question, does it matter whether the aftermarket clutch is installed at a Jeep certified dealer or by just some mechanic? FWIW, I'm in Canada, and have a 5 year warranty from the dealer, not sure if any of this matters.

Cheers,
Dmitry.

 

[OrneryBear]

I think you're really wasting your time here. Do you think Jeep manufactures its own clutches? There's always some third-party manufacturer who actually makes the clutches. Even if Jeep were to immediately agree with you, they would have to undergo the long process of validating the aftermarket manufacturer as a vendor, ensuring they had capacity, contracts, QC checks, etc. The end result would be a significantly longer delay than whomever Jeep is currently working with, and it would still be an OEM clutch at the end, just with a different actual manufacturer.

To further your point. After a design revision is approved the supplier must go through a production approval trial process with Jeep. If previous tooling cannot be used, that must be produced. If they had any assembly fixtures or tolerance check fixtures, those must be designed and made. Are there shipping fixtures that need designed? Those need to be made and approved. Are there assembly line transport holding fixtures? Are there install fixtures or robotic end of arm tooling? Guess who makes all this. Not Jeep, and often not the supplier. This is getting subbed out to smaller shops. Not all shops can produce them at the same speed but you need all of this depending on the level of the revision. All of this happens AFTER a new component goes through QC testing.

I do this for a living, designing and producing all of these types of fixtures and tooling for automotive suppliers. It's a whole long process.

 

[JeepCares]

Thanks for the reply/info William. One more question, does it matter whether the aftermarket clutch is installed at a Jeep certified dealer or by just some mechanic? FWIW, I'm in Canada, and have a 5 year warranty from the dealer, not sure if any of this matters.

Cheers,
Dmitry.

It does not. We always recommend having the parts installed by our dealers but some dealers will not install parts that is not through them.

William
Jeep Cares

 

[rizion]

We are sorry that there is no repair remedy available at this time, we will keep everyone affected by this recall further posted.

William
Jeep Cares

is "Everyone Affected" all of us with manual JL's?

 

[fspalt]

These people in this Chrysler photo are running from their vehicle. The clutch has exploded and flames were licking their boots.

Yes, this is a minivan. Surely it has (had) to be manual.

Lol this

This would not void your warranty if you replaced your clutch with an aftermarket, we would not cover the clutch repair under warranty if anything does happen. Outside the basic warranty, the clutch would be consider normal maintenance. If your aftermarket clutch caused other parts and components to fail, this could cause your warranty to be voided on those parts/components.

William
Jeep Cares

@JeepCares Speaking of the clutch causing other parts and components to fail, causing your warranty to be voided on those parts/components, are all the people who were denied warranty coverage because the factory clutch exploded been reimbursed yet? Or are their warranties still void?

 

[beaups]

To further your point. After a design revision is approved the supplier must go through a production approval trial process with Jeep. If previous tooling cannot be used, that must be produced. If they had any assembly fixtures or tolerance check fixtures, those must be designed and made. Are there shipping fixtures that need designed? Those need to be made and approved. Are there assembly line transport holding fixtures? Are there install fixtures or robotic end of arm tooling? Guess who makes all this. Not Jeep, and often not the supplier. This is getting subbed out to smaller shops. Not all shops can produce them at the same speed but you need all of this depending on the level of the revision. All of this happens AFTER a new component goes through QC testing.

I do this for a living, designing and producing all of these types of fixtures and tooling for automotive suppliers. It's a whole long process.

What do those fixtures and tooling have to do with a dealer-installed part?

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