Hard top wind noise

[vintage38]

Has anyone ridden in a new Grand Cherokee? How is it compared to the new JLU? I own a 2017 Limited and kind of wanted a JLU Sahara next, but I've never ever been in a Wrangler. I need to test drive one but I feel like I'm not gonna like it even though its been my dream car for a while :/ I'm used to my GC's smooth and quiet ride.

I would definitely get one with a body colored hard top with the installed headliner.

Just coming out of a 2016 GC. I'm not expecting my new Rubicon to be as quiet, but to own a Wrangler it's well worth a little out size noise, IMO. Besides I can always crank the tunes. Life is always better in a Jeep Wrangler! Enjoy the Ride!

Sponsored

 

[vintage38]

I just test drove the JL Rubicon with no headliner with 25 mph crosswinds. This thing was so much louder than my 2 door Willys with headliners. It definitely had the whistle and it was extremely annoying. No way am I plunking down $52K for the loudest Jeep I have ever driven.

Probably just a adjustment in windshield or even hardtop. Pretty sure Jeep didn't design a new ground up wrangler and forget to put it through a wind tunnel. Besides that's the beauty of a factory warranty, they fix it for free. When I did my test drive the wrangler I test drove seemed quite and tight, so apparently it's not happening on all of them. I don't think I'm going to let a wind noise stop me from buying a new Wrangler. Pretty sure Jeep can and will fix this problem for the folks that have it.

 

[bbradshaw14]

Took delivery of my JLU Sahara (Painted hard top) on March 9th. Prior to that, I had a 2017 JKU Sahara with hard top. I'll confirm that I do not have any issue with wind noise at all. Convinced that whatever others are hearing is related to either misaligned freedom tops (or windshield) since there is a fair degree of play in how you can lock them down and it likely wouldn't take being off just slightly to cause this OR it also could be weather stripping on the door which used to be loose or get pinched on the JKs. Regardless, I'm certain for those who encounter this, it is not a serious issue. BUT - as noted several times, the Wrangler is NOT a car...and by that I mean with my '17 JK and the 4 other Wranglers I've owned over the years, you would be challenged to make a phone call in them while driving. The cabins were always loud but to be honest I never even thought about it at the time. I was too distracted bye how enjoyable they are to drive. Not having the $$ that some of the members on this forum have to be able to have a Wrangler for FUN and a $130,000 Tesla as a daily driver (Wish I did!), mine were daily drivers and continue to be. I'll also confirm that the JL is categorically better in regards to cabin and road noise. In my opinion, it is not equivalent to other typical SUVs so while I never considered it a problem, it has improved 100% - along with just about every other factor on the truck.

So for those who are stepping into their first Wrangler, Congrats! Don't sweat it. When you are rolling with the top and doors off on a 80 degree summer day you will forget all about wind noise. Haha .Jeep Wrangler is more than transportation; to me, and many others, it's a way of living life to the fullest. Cheers!

 

[PopsJeep]

Took delivery of my JLU Sahara (Painted hard top) on March 9th. Prior to that, I had a 2017 JKU Sahara with hard top. I'll confirm that I do not have any issue with wind noise at all. Convinced that whatever others are hearing is related to either misaligned freedom tops (or windshield) since there is a fair degree of play in how you can lock them down and it likely wouldn't take being off just slightly to cause this OR it also could be weather stripping on the door which used to be loose or get pinched on the JKs. Regardless, I'm certain for those who encounter this, it is not a serious issue. BUT - as noted several times, the Wrangler is NOT a car...and by that I mean with my '17 JK and the 4 other Wranglers I've owned over the years, you would be challenged to make a phone call in them while driving. The cabins were always loud but to be honest I never even thought about it at the time. I was too distracted bye how enjoyable they are to drive. Not having the $$ that some of the members on this forum have to be able to have a Wrangler for FUN and a $130,000 Tesla as a daily driver (Wish I did!), mine were daily drivers and continue to be. I'll also confirm that the JL is categorically better in regards to cabin and road noise. In my opinion, it is not equivalent to other typical SUVs so while I never considered it a problem, it has improved 100% - along with just about every other factor on the truck.

So for those who are stepping into their first Wrangler, Congrats! Don't sweat it. When you are rolling with the top and doors off on a 80 degree summer day you will forget all about wind noise. Haha .Jeep Wrangler is more than transportation; to me, and many others, it's a way of living life to the fullest. Cheers!

Very well said my friend.

 

[Gus]

Hi all, @JeepCares
I took delivery of mu JLUR yesterday,
First thing I noticed when driving at lower speed is the wind buffering in the cabin, as if sunroof was open at high speed.
Is my case it is happing at slow speed though.40-70 KM/h
I had to open one of the windows slightly to silence the buffering.
It might have to be form the freedom panels, as the sound varies at different speeds.
any feedback on that is appreciated.
I am sure it is going to be hard for a dealer to figure it out at this stage.

@JeepCares

 

[Zoot]

One quick way to check (had similar issue with my current JKU) look at the top of the hardtop, especially where the freedom tops meet the rest of it. If you see anything like thin rubber sticking out it means the factory or dealership doesn’t know how to properly seat the freedom top. Re seat it and it should be fine.

 

[Gus]

One quick way to check (had similar issue with my current JKU) look at the top of the hardtop, especially where the freedom tops meet the rest of it. If you see anything like thin rubber sticking out it means the factory or dealership doesn’t know how to properly seat the freedom top. Re seat it and it should be fine.

Thanks for your feedback.
Appreciate.

 

[SaintNick]

Probably just a adjustment in windshield or even hardtop. Pretty sure Jeep didn't design a new ground up wrangler and forget to put it through a wind tunnel. Besides that's the beauty of a factory warranty, they fix it for free. When I did my test drive the wrangler I test drove seemed quite and tight, so apparently it's not happening on all of them. I don't think I'm going to let a wind noise stop me from buying a new Wrangler. Pretty sure Jeep can and will fix this problem for the folks that have it.

What about when Jeep says its normal?? And does a wind tunnel have crosswinds??

 

[vintage38]

What about when Jeep says its normal?? And does a wind tunnel have crosswinds??

I don't have my Jeep in yet, so all I have to go off of is a test drive, which I didn't hear any wind noise. But if it's not happening to all of them than it's not normal. I understand some owners frustration and would hate to be in their shoes. I"m no expert but from reading the posts it sounds like a adjustment issue. Which should be covered under warranty. If a dealership is saying it's normal than I would call them out on it. I'm sure they have other JL's on the lot to compare the wind noise. I don't believe this issue is going to deter me from going through with my purchse and pretty sure Jeep will get this issue resolved on the Jl's that have the problem. But as you said if you don't feel like plunking down $52k on the loudest Jeep you have ever driven then you should not, after all it's your money you should do what you want with it. This will be my 4th Jeep and have never had a problem with any of them that couldn't be fixed under warranty, so I will be plunking $51K on a new Rubicon very shortly.

 

[rallydefault]

@bbradshaw14
Very true! I'm going into my first Wrangler after a Cherokee and Renegade, and though the cabin noise is nowhere near as quiet as any SUV, it's not too crazy until I hit about 70mph, and even at that point I can either crank the speakers or just enjoy the drive for what it is (I've always been someone who drives with all of the windows down regardless of car or speed).

This is with the hard top, obviously. My wife's brother used to have a soft top, so I know the game is totally different with that one. But again, I feel if you're going soft top, you know what you're signing up for lol

 

[FatBoy01]

When I read forum posts about "Hard top wind noise", I always wonder..... Have these people ever owned a Wrangler JK ?

Sure, if you are used to driving a Lexus, Silverado, Civic, SUV, Morano or whatever you has think the JLU has something wrong with it/wind noise.

Reality is the less quiet cabin environment of the JLU @ speeds over 60 mph it is the nature of the beast lets say. It's normal for a Jk or JL. Get used to it.

Yes, there could be an occasional JLU that has a windshield seal leak, removable roof panels not sealing...

 

[Lauren3432]

When I read forum posts about "Hard top wind noise", I always wonder..... Have these people ever owned a Wrangler JK ?

Sure, if you are used to driving a Lexus, Silverado, Civic, SUV, Morano or whatever you has think the JLU has something wrong with it/wind noise.

Reality is the less quiet cabin environment of the JLU @ speeds over 60 mph it is the nature of the beast lets say. It's normal for a Jk or JL. Get used to it.

Yes, there could be an occasional JLU that has a windshield seal leak, removable roof panels not sealing...

I’m having the same issue with the whistling noise on my new 2018 Sahara JLU. Prior to getting it a week ago, I drove a JKU hardtop for 5 years. Never experienced anything like this before. For me, it’s not typical wind noise - it is an extremely loud, high pitched whistle that almost sounds like a home smoke detector going off. It’s only when traveling at 60mph + through crosswinds (which I do way more often than I thought) I’m talking a sound so loud that you can’t even listen to music or anything else. Dealer says it’s normal. Have re-seated freedom panels, but that didn’t work. Not sure what to do from here.

 

[ssiegler]

I’m having the same issue with the whistling noise on my new 2018 Sahara JLU. Prior to getting it a week ago, I drove a JKU hardtop for 5 years. Never experienced anything like this before. For me, it’s not typical wind noise - it is an extremely loud, high pitched whistle that almost sounds like a home smoke detector going off. It’s only when traveling at 60mph + through crosswinds (which I do way more often than I thought) I’m talking a sound so loud that you can’t even listen to music or anything else. Dealer says it’s normal. Have re-seated freedom panels, but that didn’t work. Not sure what to do from here.

join the club... i don't know how the dealers can keep telling everyone that this is normal

 

[FatBoy01]

For me, it’s not typical wind noise - it is an extremely loud, high pitched whistle that almost sounds like a home smoke detector going off. It’s only when traveling at 60mph + through crosswinds (which I do way more often than I thought) I’m talking a sound so loud that you can’t even listen to music or anything else. Dealer says it’s normal. Have re-seated freedom panels, but that didn’t work. Not sure what to do from here.

Lauren, In your case, since the dealer is saying normal and it is apparent that this "high pitched whistle" is not normal, your next move should be to contact JeepCares....ask them for assistance. Ask them to arrange for a more through, investigative, evaluation of the issue at another dealership. They will gladly do this.

 

[Dynomite1371]

I’m having the same issue with the whistling noise on my new 2018 Sahara JLU. Prior to getting it a week ago, I drove a JKU hardtop for 5 years. Never experienced anything like this before. For me, it’s not typical wind noise - it is an extremely loud, high pitched whistle that almost sounds like a home smoke detector going off. It’s only when traveling at 60mph + through crosswinds (which I do way more often than I thought) I’m talking a sound so loud that you can’t even listen to music or anything else. Dealer says it’s normal. Have re-seated freedom panels, but that didn’t work. Not sure what to do from here.

Could a heavy cross wind maybe as it crosses a hood vent or the quarter panel vent maybe crest that noise. I get it in heavy cross winds and it's not loud at all it almost sounds like a three beep warning, similar to leaving seat belt off warning. It sounds like it's on the left side of vehicle. I do not believe it's the hard top I could be wrong.

Sponsored