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

[DuramaxJack3d]

Agree there was more to the OP than cup holders. But my secondary take away was that his pen and rewards pass on the passenger seem to fare way better than the front half of the JL.

Haha, unfortunately I think the insurance took that rewards card when they took the Jeep to investigate it.... now I’m pissed, I know I had at least $0.10 off my next coffee.

Sponsored

 

[nunziotocci]

If you smelled the clutch when you were first learning, you probably glazed the friction disc before it was broken in. This will significantly reduce it's holding torque, which is probably why your clutch is slipping now.

Most automatics (I'm not talking about dual clutch automatics) don't have a clutch in the sense a manual transmission does. They have a torque converter which works on the principles of fluid dynamics (and possibly a mechanical lock engaged at higher RPM). The clutch packs (and bands) inside an automatic transmission are for changing gears, not controlling power delivery from the engine. What you describe as a "fake shift" is a normal down shift.

Good info on the friction disc. I'm going to try and get the dealer to look at it today.

I didn't know that automatics don't have a clutch per se. That actually kind of makes sense.

I was only calling it a "fake shift" in reference to what was happening in my manual. I know that it would actually downshift in an automatic.

(correction: what I thought was happening in my manual)

 

[ChattVol]

I bet they're going to give VERY few people new clutches. They're going to ask us to schedule an appt to semi look at clutches and make us wait all day to essentially tell us we've made it awhile without a fire...nothing is needed.

 

[FlatSixShooter]

I bet they're going to give VERY few people new clutches. They're going to ask us to schedule an appt to semi look at clutches and make us wait all day to essentially tell us we've made it awhile without a fire...nothing is needed.

33,000 clutches/pressure plates, even at a modest $1500 for each set would be $50 million bucks.

I’m sure FCA would rather bet on only three or four or five people getting killed, at say $1 or 2 million settlement each. Yup.

.

 

[Goosed]

No sir

I have two small kiddos in car seats... How long did you have to get out before it would have gotten ugly?

 

[beaups]

33,000 clutches/pressure plates, even at a modest $1500 for each set would be $50 million bucks.

I’m sure FCA would rather bet on only three or four or five people getting killed, at say $1 or 2 million settlement each. Yup.

.

$1500 isn't modest at all at warranty reimbursement rates. I'd guess it'll be closer to half that.

 

[Monkeynono]

What does "rerouting wiring harness" have to do with clutch failure and fire?

 

[FlatSixShooter]

$1500 isn't modest at all at warranty reimbursement rates. I'd guess it'll be closer to half that.

I was spit balling it based on aftermarket parts.

Do you think clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, dealership labor to drop tranny, remove & replace parts, re assemble and re-rout electrical harness being moved can all be done for $750 for all parts, labor, etc? That seems low to me but I’m just spitballing.

.

 

[LABLUE]

$1500 isn't modest at all at warranty reimbursement rates. I'd guess it'll be closer to half that.

If it's at current costs(most likely to go down) it would be around $1000. The costs will be passed on to the manufacturer of the clutch. It doesnt fall on FCA alone.

 

[vavaroutsos]

I was spit balling it based on aftermarket parts.

Do you think clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, dealership labor to drop tranny, remove & replace parts, re assemble and re-rout electrical harness being moved can all be done for $750 for all parts, labor, etc? That seems low to me but I’m just spitballing.

.

Not at normal dealer rates, which is why it's so hard to get some dealers to take care of these things. Mine wouldn't even do a Jeep Wave oil change because FCA doesn't pay them enough. My dealer wants $1875 labor to change a clutch (won't be getting that from me).

 

[FlatSixShooter]

Not at normal dealer rates, which is why it's so hard to get some dealers to take care of these things. Mine wouldn't even do a Jeep Wave oil change because FCA doesn't pay them enough. My dealer wants $1875 labor to change a clutch (won't be getting that from me).

For an NHTSA Safety Recall, FCA must also file status of repair reports. If they won’t pay dealers enough to get them done, they will be in deeper doo doo with NHTSA. Look up “related documents” on the NHTSA web site for the JL safety recalls. All the status of repair reports are there.
Here is a Sample report below :


https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCLQRT-18V675-7928.PDF



..

 

[four low]

In the FCA report, it said that the Supplier tested the pressure plates, and found it WASN'T an ignition source ; FCA tests showed it WAS an ignition source, so it might be a batch issue, not across the board, hence the 1% of total manual transmission pressure plate units needing placement .
The SLAVE CYLINDER inclusion would complicate matters, will be curious to see what the final cause is. I used to love manual transmissions....

 

[FlatSixShooter]

In the FCA report, it said that the Supplier tested the pressure plates, and found it WASN'T an ignition source ; FCA tests showed it WAS an ignition source, so it might be a batch issue, not across the board, hence the 1% of total manual transmission pressure plate units needing placement .
The SLAVE CYLINDER inclusion would complicate matters, will be curious to see what the final cause is. I used to love manual transmissions....

Agree it may be a small % of pressure plates that crack/fracture/frag under excess friction or heat. But what’s causing excess heat ? Docs say customers may smell burning material or feel slippage before failure. A faulty master cylinder may prevent a clutch from fully engaging. Many have questioned the delicate feel, small design of the JL clutch assembly. Seems like there’s already been an abnormal number of clutch problems and premature wear. I think this clutch issue is going to be a sticky one, no pun intended.

 

[AwCrimety]

My clutch has often felt a bit off, but after two dealer visits, regarding this, they claim it's normal. But in damp or rainy mornings, releasing the clutch pedal in first gear has a jittery feel to it,...not sure how best to describe it, but it sort of slips and grabs quickly, repeatedly. It's a peculiar feeling, hard to describe, and random, so I cant reproduce all the time. Not knowing exactly how the mechanics work, does this sound like something the pressure plate could be doing?

I was happy about this when I thought things would get replaced...less happy now that I think I'll go in, and once again just be told it's normal.

 

[Tangokilo]

Just read this from Autoblog. Says the pressure plate can reach 1100 degrees and become a primary source to start a fire. My July 18 built JLU seems just fine. Best driving manual I have ever daily had of many. But if your clutch is slipping you should be aware.

From Autoblog:

According to documents from the National Highway Safety Administration, Jeep will recall a total of 33,237 of its 2018-2020 Wrangler SUVs and 2020 Gladiator pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions due to clutch pressure plates that could overheat and fracture. That could lead to a fire, cause the vehicle to lose its ability to move, or result in debris that could damage other nearby components or fall onto the road. As you can imagine, none of those outcomes is good.

The recall covers Wranglers built between August 23, 2017, until the issue was discovered on February 13, 2020, and Gladiators built from December 21, 2018, until February 20, 2020. According to NHTSA's documentation (PDF link), Fiat Chrysler engineers were able to re-create the problem in the lab and found that the pressure plate can reach 1,100 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough for it to be "a competent ignition source."

Sponsored