JL welding Issues

[viper88]

As far as I am aware my pictures are being forwarded to more than one person in QC or that manages frame assembly/welding with the intention that the pictures will shed light on welds, attempting to fix them, and reduce this happening again. I hope that's the case, as I'm a believer in the brand and I know they can do much better than this. Quality can go a long way to say the least.

I know a supplier built and supplied the frames. I wonder how much quality control FCA required initially from the supplier? A friend used to work for a very large manufacturer and supplier. He said they made parts for every auto manufacturer in the world. Honda, GM, Ford, Chrysler all ordered parts. Honda would do quality quality control audits on them several times a year. Honda would actually send QC engineers to their plants to do audits. He said Chrysler never did. This was in the late 80's.

I saw your post about all the Jeeps you owned. The JL will only be my third. I hope FCA takes care of you sooner then later!

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[Rebecca76]

Did anyone tell you the welds on your frame are bad? I am planning on ordering a 2-door and was hoping the bad frames were isolated to the earlier 4-door Unlimited frames. Hopefully those bad frames were pulled out of production, not assembles and sold, only to be patched under warranty after a unassuming customer buys it.

I just discovered them yesterday evening. I am not a welding expert but have some knowledge of how to spot bad welds for a small portion of my job. I can say they aren't quality welds but as far as calling them structurally defective, I'm not qualified. I've already sent pictures to my dealership and they are already trying to say they look fine without ever seeing them with their own eyes. I want to know they won't rust through within 5 years or so. Salt from the road and bare metal isn't a good mix. I did see at least one other with the 2 door have this issur. Comparatively, there just aren't that many 2 doors on the road yet and of those, how many would have even thought to look at the frame? I wouldn't have if not for seeing posts like those on this site.

 

[digitalbliss]

Nope , wouldn't ever get in and out . I'm a Jeep loyalist partly because I've got bad knees , bad lumbar back , bad shoulders and fingers and hands . Without the Big Boy seat extenders , and orthopaedic seat , I'd be unable . I'll hand it to fca for their generous adaptability program . Another reason I'm a Jeep loyalist is the Army M-151 .

Ok, but Subaus are no longer these small little imports like you probably think. My wife's outback has more ground clearance than a stock Grand Cherokee. The new Ascent (which is subject of the link I posted) has 3 rows and is quite large. But hey, buy what you want. Just remember, a 4 door Jeep was only fiction just 10 years ago.

 

[viper88]

Ok, but Subaus are no longer these small little imports like you probably think. My wife's outback has more ground clearance than a stock Grand Cherokee. The new Ascent (which is subject of the link I posted) has 3 rows and is quite large. But hey, buy what you want. Just remember, a 4 door Jeep was only fiction just 10 years ago.

Subaru had issues with head gaskets in some older engines. They makes great cars today. I can't believe the great MPG they get with full time all-wheel drive. I got 37mpg in a friend's 2018 Crosstrek with the CVT trans on a road trip. Fun fact, Subaru made a lot of the Toyota Camrys in their Indiana plant up until last year. You are right, the Ascent is huge and has 19 CUP HOLDERS! lol.

 

[blessidsoul12]

Looks like Subaru is having some issues, except they are actually issuing a recall.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen...u-says-some-owners-will-get-new-vehicles/amp/

Should we take bets on how long until FCA issues a recall for our jeeps as well. It would be interesting to find out what the process was that took place within Subaru that led to this recall...

 

[digitalbliss]

Should we take bets on how long until FCA issues a recall for our jeeps as well. It would be interesting to find out what the process was that took place within Subaru that led to this recall...

I would like them to give an honest review/inspection at the least. That's a good question, the article says that it was found during inspection at the plant. Glad to see it wasn't just swept under the rug.

 

[amckinney]

When was your build date? It'll be inside the driver's door on the sticker in a 6 number format. Mine is 021414, for Feb 14 at 1400 hrs.

Regarding your welds... not good. A lot of slag, good amount of porosity with the pinholes, robot weld tracking off-line, not covering the intended lap weld lines, glob-type weld caps, overlapping, undercutting, etc.

With mine I have a LOT of pososity on critical components, like the front track bar bracket and rear sway bar. This is unacceptable. I've had at least 25, maybe more around 30, professional welders look at the welds first hand (5) and the rest through high res pictures. Every single one of them has said that its major oversight, dangerous, and they would never "pass" a vehicle with welds like it. One welder yesterday that works with weld robotics and is pretty high up for steel machine fabrication said "Wow! This is a Jeep Wrangler. Take it back immediately or get it lemon lawed. It is not safe to drive."

Mine has been at the dealership since last Monday for this very issue!! Still waiting for FCA techs to examine it.

The biggest issues I see with yours are the spots of porosity, because those holes will take on salt, dirt, etc and start to rust from within. It doesn't look like your porosity is as bad as some I've seen on here though. The second most concerning thing I see though is the amount of slag in the welds... the orange color that's showing through the welds where paint will not stick to. Slag is a byproduct of mig/steel welding and should be removed to expose the actual weld. Once the slag gets a little age, or you power wash your frame after off roading, or just on it's own will fall off. Once it does, that leaves totally exposed welds that will immediately start taking on rust then begin to fail at the weld joints. The off-line welds are a bit concerning too. If they don't cover or penetrate the intended steel, then the weld at that point is worthless and not doing its job.

Depending on your other welds you may have enough to warrant an inspection from FCA techs. Check the front track bar, rear sway, and other brackets connected to the frame that control steering and handling. Those are most critical.

Just got back to town to check. It is March 23rd at 1000. I will be interested to see what happens with yours.

 

[blessidsoul12]

My build date was mid-March as well.

Here are some of mine. Interestingly I looked over our Tahoe and man those welds look flawless front-to-back, like from a welding textbook.

 

[alkymst]

Hi there,

So new to the forum and not the post I was wanting to find nor was I wanting to find issues on my 3 day old Jeep.

Mine was built on 7-20-18, JLUR. I had no idea to look for this. Hoping it looks ok. What do you guys think?

Also notice the green check mark on the passenger side by the lower control arm mount. Thought that was interesting.

 

[digitalbliss]

Just saw on a JL Facebook page that another trackbar mount failed...

 

[jmcdtucson]

@alkymst those welds look exactly like mine. My uneducated opinion is they look way better than some of the welds here, but the orange spots concern me.

 

[alkymst]

@alkymst those welds look exactly like mine. My uneducated opinion is they look way better than some of the welds here, but the orange spots concern me.

Thanks! That’s what I was hoping to hear. Just hope it’s safe to drive with my kids.

 

[Capt-Zoom]

Just saw on a JL Facebook page that another trackbar mount failed...

Please link here. People need to know about this stuff.

 

[digitalbliss]

Please link here. People need to know about this stuff.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-issue-at-1300-miles-failed-track-bar.13380/

 

[UNC Rubicon]

Please link here. People need to know about this stuff.

I'm in contact with reps at FCA and I have filed a complaint with NHTSA. I will be doing everything I can to shed light upon our issues in the coming days and weeks.

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