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

[Canjeeper]

I’m not upset, but don’t try to backpedal. First, you basically said my Jeep is a mall crawler so my review would be moot, then you swiped at ACT questioning their testing methodology with the Miata comment, then you came for me, again, to imply my opinion all these years was wrong (or that it was annoying enough to you that you remember my forum handle) and that you’re relieved I finally agree with the complainers. (And then you edited that comment and took a swipe at Dan for holding a similar opinion as me.)

To answer your question, I don’t want to wait for this recall for a bunch of reasons:

• FCA is stuck with ESS which will require the redesign to still use a light flywheel (is it a redesign at all, or just a new design spec for the pressure plate? No one here knows.)
• I really, really, really don't want a dealership tech installing such a complicated part. They get paid a fixed price and will absolutely cut corners to complete the job in the allotted time. I say that as someone who has had nothing but great experience at my dealership, but they make nothing on recall work.
• When parts become available there will be a long queue. I don't want to wait until 2024 for a fix.
• The new recall is coming with more software. There was a lot of F.U.D. (and still is) that the last software update was an across-the-board detune. That is false, but who's to say this new one won't be a detune? They aren't going to fix this 5 times, so whatever this new recall is has to be a drastic and final change. My opinion is that they just want to cover their asses and get the NHTSA off their back and avoid class action lawsuits, at this point. Only 70k affected across Wrangler and Gladiator - we represent a tiny sliver of overall sales, and I doubt they care if they upset us.
• I have a 500 mile trip to ADK coming up. Lots of highway, and that seems to be when these things are failing most often (anecdotal, but I haven't seen a single thread that indicates failure happened on a trail of around town). I don't want to have a failure in rural NY hundreds of miles from home.
• I want to do Rausch 101 this summer, and the off-roading experts on this forum say a heavier flywheel will make my experience better.
• My wife and middle child occasionally drive my Jeep. Neither would catch the warning signs of impending failure, and their safety is paramount.
• I just paid off my Jeep and now have a mod budget.
• @Actman published VERY compelling videos that triggered an, "I want that new toy!" response in my brain.

There's Ted Talk number two in the can, though I'm sure no one read all that!

You seem like a Stelantis /Jeep empoyee to me , Re my questions . Just trying to keep things on the up and up . You seem to know more then you are letting on ?

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[AZ Hella]

Glad they found it. Last I new mine was expected to ship today.

UPS is delivering mine tomorrow then, it will sit in my garage for 6 months.

 

[Revelation17]

Has anyone actually been paid out for a clutch they have replaced? I submitted through the website and its been almost 30 days and they said my case is not even assigned to anyone?

My request was declined after a week. They said that the TSB wasn't updated and there were no parts available so they couldn't reimburse at this time. That leads me to believe that aftermarket stuff will default to not being reimbursed, which I could see if they had an acceptable fix available. But, given that they don't it seems like a pretty shitty way to approach it.

 

[Mandalorian]

My request was declined after a week. They said that the TSB wasn't updated and there were no parts available so they couldn't reimburse at this time. That leads me to believe that aftermarket stuff will default to not being reimbursed, which I could see if they had an acceptable fix available. But, given that they don't it seems like a pretty shitty way to approach it.

Disappointing. Did you receive the letter in the mail telling you that if you already replaced the clutch you would be reimbursed? I was asked after a week to resubmit because they couldn’t open the PDF. Now it’s been 30 days and it hasn’t been assigned so that seems weird to me.

 

[Cutterone]

I put a CF2 in last November, should I even bother attempting for reimbursement now or later after recall is decided? I'm guessing it would be a waste of time...

 

[Revelation17]

Disappointing. Did you receive the letter in the mail telling you that if you already replaced the clutch you would be reimbursed? I was asked after a week to resubmit because they couldn’t open the PDF. Now it’s been 30 days and it hasn’t been assigned so that seems weird to me.

Yeah, the original recall notice stated that you could submit for reimbursement if you'd already had the work done. I also had the initial submission rejected because they couldn't deal with the PDF attachments. I emailed them the same PDFs again and then was rejected.

 

[Revelation17]

I put a CF2 in last November, should I even bother attempting for reimbursement now or later after recall is decided? I'm guessing it would be a waste of time...

That's the big question. Not sure if they'll reimburse for aftermarket or not. I could have sworn that somewhere in one of thesw threads someone said that they got reimbursed for parts cost but not labor. Haven't been able to find that post though.

 

[Mandalorian]

Yeah, the original recall notice stated that you could submit for reimbursement if you'd already had the work done. I also had the initial submission rejected because they couldn't deal with the PDF attachments. I emailed them the same PDFs again and then was rejected.

How long did it take them to reject it

 

[siggy]

You seem like a Stelantis /Jeep empoyee to me , Re my questions . Just trying to keep things on the up and up . You seem to know more then you are letting on ?

Just ask him on a date already!

 

[Revelation17]

How long did it take them to reject it

less than a week

 

[JeepCares]

That's the big question. Not sure if they'll reimburse for aftermarket or not. I could have sworn that somewhere in one of thesw threads someone said that they got reimbursed for parts cost but not labor. Haven't been able to find that post though.

Hello,

Thank you for grabbing our attention on this. We are currently not offering any reimbursement for any aftermarket parts/components for a recall. The parts/components does need to be OEM through Mopar for any reimbursement consideration.

William
Jeep Cares

 

[Revelation17]

Hello,

Thank you for grabbing our attention on this. We are currently not offering any reimbursement for any aftermarket parts/components for a recall. The parts/components does need to be OEM through Mopar for any reimbursement consideration.

William
Jeep Cares

Like I said, if an OEM solution were available then that would make sense. However, since Jeep basically said that our clutches can explode and burn our Jeeps to the ground but there isn't a fix available and won't be for months many of us feel we're in an untenable situation. I have trips planned all Summer long, including a 3 day drive to California. Keeping a known defective design in my rig wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

 

[fspalt]

Like I said, if an OEM solution were available then that would make sense. However, since Jeep basically said that our clutches can explode and burn our Jeeps to the ground but there isn't a fix available and won't be for months many of us feel we're in an untenable situation. I have trips planned all Summer long, including a 3 day drive to California. Keeping a known defective design in my rig wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

Just read back through the threads. I have already brought up this exact point (as have many others) @JeepCares only response has been call us if you survive it burning to the ground and we will have you talk to our roadside team!

 

[fspalt]

William

Can you confirm those of us who have our clutch explode prior to the remedy being available will be reimbursed for the following (that is if the Jeep doesn't burn to the ground in the first place)?

- Towing to the nearest FCA dealer.
- Replacement of all damaged parts caused by said clutch explosion.
- Rental vehicle that has equivalent 4x4 ability. For example, if my Manual Rubicon explodes then I get an Automatic Rubicon loaner until mine is fixed.
- If said explosion happens 1000 miles away from home while on a trip arraignments will be made to ship my Jeep back to me after repairs are complete.
- An new warranty for clutch components. I have heard the original is 1 year 12k miles?

Thanks,

Back from page 72.

And their response:

Hello,

Sorry for the delay on this response. Any towing and trip interruption is all done through roadside assistance. Should there be any accident/explosion, please reach out to us directly, a Special Investigation case would need to be created for a Specialist to assist you further.

William
Jeep Cares

This was probably the funniest reply yet:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-wranglers-and-gladiators.109588/post-2349194

 

[speedymart]

Heard through the grapevine about a guy who used to work on a sub for the Navy. He had a fire on a sub once and managed to get it covered blaming PTSD because the recall says "fire". The local area rep approved a CF2 clutch replacement because of this.

Unless you can convenience the local chrysler rep to approve the repair, you won't be getting reimbursed honestly

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