Damage Found After Delivery

[JoeBelt]

I've been reading through the forum for a while now and decided to pull the trigger on a 2018 JL. I wasn't entirely ready for a new JL as I had a 2017 JK, but it would flood when it rained and after a year and 3 trips to the dealer, it was either live with wet feet, trade-in, or take advantage of the "Lemon Law". Being a couple thousand under water on the trade, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the situation, but I was ready to be done with the headache of leaks.

Sadly, my first post is one of frustration. I took delivery of a black JL with black interior at night. The next morning after being able to see the new Jeep in daylight I noticed a small slice in the driver's leather seat. I live in Florida and took delivery of the Jeep wearing a t-shirt. I don't wear jewelry. I don't have pets. I'm 100% confident I did not ruin my seat on the drive home from the dealership.

No big deal that's why new vehicles have a warranty right? Apparently not. I took the Jeep back to the dealership so they could order a new leather seat cover. They took pictures and sent them off to FCA to get repair authorization - which was denied. They do not believe it to be a factory defect. So here I am with a new Jeep to replace my leaking almost new Jeep and I get to start off the relationship with a sliced seat. Maybe @JeepCares ? Maybe not.

Is it just me or does the "grain" of the vinyl seems to disappear around the slice? If so, it more heavily weights this as being a manufacturing defect that wasn't caught.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

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[blessidsoul12]

Totally agree. The "grain" is definitely missing. I'd say surefire defect. Take macro shots. Talk to Jeep cares and fall FCA.

Sorry you're having to deal with this. It will work out.

 

[TrailTorque]

If you look closely there is another one just above it bro..

 

[TrailTorque]

You need to check ALL of the seats in detail. If you can find another one like this I bet they would have to...

 

[DCELL]

Grain is definitely 'rubbed off'/was never there in those two spots. I bet you will find more, without the "cuts", on that seat, or others.

 

[Solidaxle]

Definitely looks suspect, looks like it might have been repaired already with one of those leather repair kits you notice classic loss of detail in the grain.

 

[Chemy350]

Almost certainly a failed repair. When we repair a leather seat, the grain almost goes away and it becomes smoother than the rest of the seat. This is what it looks like. Wish I had a better answer but it can be repaired for $100-$150 by a vendor at the dealership, I'm sure they use one. We do here..

 

[mwilk012]

The dealership will likely replace it under warranty. That's a pretty minor problem overall.

 

[Agent47]

I went through the same issue. It will NOT be covered under warranty. They do not consider it to be a factory defect and will not take responsibility for it. I discovered mine while broken down on the side of the road which happened driving back from the dealer after purchasing the Jeep (Idaho to Washington), but they didn’t care.

Luckily one of the issues I noticed before signing for it so the dealer covered the repair on their own dime. Another two got rejected by my local dealer. One of them is small and covered by the seat belt so I let it go, the other is a trim piece around the climate controls that is getting replaced, but only because I emailed the FCA CEO.

 

[Solidaxle]

The dealership will likely replace it under warranty. That's a pretty minor problem overall.

Wow ,
This is not a long thread , you didn’t even take a second to read anything. That’s what started this thread the OP was denied warranty.

 

[mwilk012]

Wow ,
This is not a long thread , you didn’t even take a second to read anything. That’s what started this thread the OP was denied warranty.

He needs to press the issue. This isn’t the first time this same problem has been posted here.

 

[FWB FL]

That is for sure a repair.

 

[ZEN357]

Did the dealership cut the seat with a razor when they took the plastic off the seat from shipping? Just a thought????

 

[GreyFox]

Did the dealership cut the seat with a razor when they took the plastic off the seat from shipping? Just a thought????

That's exactly what I was thinking!

 

[WXman]

To me, not only do I not see a slice, but I also don't think I'd fight the dealership over it.

The top texture can be rubbed to the point of an abrasion without actually cutting through. That's what it appears to be here. And, those seats are going to look worse than that 6 months from now. Wear and tear happens. The best cure here is to get a pen and lightly color it to match the seat and you won't even notice it.

I just spent $300 last year on a leather repair to a seat that had a true slice in it. But what I see in those pictures above doesn't even register as something that's worth pissing off the dealership over. Save that fight for later when you may really need it.

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