Poll: Bubbles in Paint??

[Senior_Chief]

I don't have any bare metal. My doors were warranty replaced and fully painted, but the hinges were not warranty replaced.

BTW my 2020 JLU is in the 3rd party paint shop waiting for the windshield frame to get delivered.

I spoke to the body shop owner who indicated that new hinges have a coating on the underside.

Sponsored

 

[MOTC JL]

I have a 2018 Granite Crystal Sport S Unlimited and the paint is bubbling near the hinges on both front doors

 

[Jebiruph]

BTW my 2020 JLU is in the 3rd party paint shop waiting for the windshield frame to get delivered.

I spoke to the body shop owner who indicated that new hinges have a coating on the underside.

The bare metal was referring to the unpainted part under the hinges on the factory painted doors.

 

[pangmaster]

Mine has gotten significantly worse in the past 2 years. Multiple spots around the hinges on both doors, and also along the bottom edge of both doors. I don't see it anywhere else on the hood or body but the doors look awful.

Still I am not sure about giving it up to the dealer to deal with it. I have half a mind to just have the whole damn thing repainted, but it's a Jeep and it has lots of trail scars and warts.

For now, do nothing incorporated is where I work

Edit: I took the doors off so now the Jeep looks better. And it made it a bit easier to take pics.

 

[FrickinAdam]

Jeep approved my out of warranty claim. so they dont repaint existing panels. Everything gets replaced with new parts. So i am getting 3 new doors and all the things that are needed to make it new again. Was hoping they would do all 4 doors but so far after the first "fix" that one door is the only one that seems ok. None of the main issues has anything to do with the bolts....its all in the prep at the factory and primer they use. There is a new process in fixing the corrosion and its NOT just a respray. Hoping this is the last time i have to worry about it.

 

[DaltonGang]

Jeep approved my out of warranty claim. so they dont repaint existing panels. Everything gets replaced with new parts. So i am getting 3 new doors and all the things that are needed to make it new again. Was hoping they would do all 4 doors but so far after the first "fix" that one door is the only one that seems ok. None of the main issues has anything to do with the bolts....its all in the prep at the factory and primer they use. There is a new process in fixing the corrosion and its NOT just a respray. Hoping this is the last time i have to worry about it.

Out of warranty? How far out of warranty were you, before you brought to their attention, the new corrosion??

 

[FrickinAdam]

Out of warranty? How far out of warranty were you, before you brought to their attention, the new corrosion??

I first noticed round 2 first of June. My 5yr corrosion warranty ended April 29th.

 

[DaltonGang]

I first noticed round 2 first of June. My 5yr corrosion warranty ended April 29th.

You got lucky with the dealership. Now, go buy a lottery ticket.

 

[Pauljacoblong]

Update to my update lol. None of the doors lined up correctly. Windshield had a whistle. I brought it back and they said it may be fixed by tomorrow.

I got it back last Monday. Driver door was so out of alignment that it wouldn’t close. Not only that but found out the door was left open since that Friday. Left it again and picked it up that afternoon. Door still didn’t close right but I just said screw it I’ll do it myself. Got it aligned and all is good. Paint work looks good. Just glad to have it back. Almost 5 months without it!

 

[pangmaster]

I got it back last Monday. Driver door was so out of alignment that it wouldn’t close. Not only that but found out the door was left open since that Friday. Left it again and picked it up that afternoon. Door still didn’t close right but I just said screw it I’ll do it myself. Got it aligned and all is good. Paint work looks good. Just glad to have it back. Almost 5 months without it!

I’m glad to hear they fixed it for you and it turned out ok. The fact that it took 5 months is the reason I’m probably not going to mess with it

 

[mclaugh]

This article was posted but no longer appears on their website?
Autopian: Jeep owners are furious about the corrosion issue

Pasting full article below (in case folks can't find it archived on Google/etc)-->
Rust was once the bugaboo of every car owner in the land. Eventually, technology improved, and now it’s largely a solved problem for those in drier communities, at least. For modern Jeep Wrangler owners, though, corrosion in another form is rearing its ugly head. It’s all about aluminum.
The issue concerns bubbling and flaking paint and corrosion, most commonly seen on the door hinges and door panels of affected vehicles. The blight affects both the JT Jeep Gladiator and the JL Jeep Wrangler, and can seemingly affect any of these vehicles built from 2018 onwards. In turn, this common pain point has become a topic of much discussion on forums and beyond.
Corrosion is one problem, but for many owners, the response from Jeep has only compounded the issue. Scores of customers have reported their issues to dealers, and many have been left frustrated and unsatisfied in turn. So what’s going on?
images-stag.jazelc.com →The corrosion is ugly, and at its worst, leads to paint flaking off entirely. Note the chalky, pitted appearance of the aluminum underneath. Credit: Todd SpencerCorrosion, But How?
The modern Wrangler (and Gladiator in turn) picked up a number of aluminum components in the latest generation. The aim was to cut weight and improve efficiency in turn. The JL model hit the market with an aluminum hood, tailgate, and doors, while the main chassis still relied on steel.
By eliminating the use of steel in these components, there’s no risk of rust, but that doesn’t mean there’s no risk of corrosion. Typically, it naturally forms a hardy aluminum oxide barrier on its surface. Unlike iron oxide, this layer is tough and remains bonded to the base material. However, under the right conditions, aluminum can still suffer deleterious corrosion. Still, if properly painted and prepared, an aluminum panel should hold up to regular environmental conditions with little to no corrosion for many years.
images-stag.jazelc.com →

images-stag.jazelc.com →Much ink is spilled over the corrosion near the door hinges, but many owners are finding other parts of their doors are corroding, too. Credit: Tristan Ray Geddes
In the case of the Wrangler, though, corrosion is popping up in vehicles just a few years, or even months, after delivery. This corrosion is most typically seen as bubbling on the door hinges, or on the door panel in the surrounding area. Other common areas include the lower part of the door panel itself. In mild cases, small bubbles under the paint aren’t particularly noticeable, but the problem can easily progress to the point where large chunks of paint are flaking off entirely.
One of the prime ways that aluminum can corrode is when it comes into contact with a different type of metal. This is referred to as “galvanic corrosion” or “dissimilar metal corrosion.” This has led to a widespread belief in the Jeep community that the hinges themselves are the problem. Endless videos and forum posts claim that Jeep’s combination of steel hinges with aluminum doors is the root cause of the corrosion issue.images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Jeep is aware of the aluminum corrosion issues, as evidenced in its Technical Service Bulletins.
However, a reality check suggests that’s not entirely accurate. The simple fact is that the JL Wrangler’s door hinges are made of aluminum, not steel. Furthermore, if that were the source of the issue, Jeep’s engineers could have solved the issue years ago with a simple part substitution. Some have suggested that the steel doors bolts are the cause, but it’s not s likely explanation. Particularly given many owners are seeing corrosion and bubbling occur in areas like the lower door panel, where there are no fasteners or steel parts at all.
And yet, a move from Jeep to rectify the issue has added fuel to this common theory. In February this year, Stellantis issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) regarding the matter. It instructs technicians to replace any corroded hinges with a new part that comes with a zinc shim. Zinc is often used as a “sacrificial anode” on submerged metal parts on ships. Thanks to Zinc’s greater potential for oxidation than metals like steel, it preferentially corrodes while leaving the structure intact. It hints at a galvanic corrosion issue at play here.
images-stag.jazelc.com →Jeep’s hinge TSB, via NHTSA.
It’s an interesting move from Jeep, and the reasoning behind it isn’t immediately obvious. The Autopian has reached out to Jeep more more information on the matter. It’s true that zinc will typically preferentially corrode over aluminum or steel. However, in this situation, having the shim corrode between the door and door hinge would be undesirable. It would lead to the hinge/door interface becoming loose over time, and there would still be unsightly corrosion byproducts, to boot. It could simply be a method to delay corrosion of the hinge/door area, rather than to stop it entirely.
Alternative theories are floating around various forums, some of which are more believable than others. Some suggest that Jeep’s paint process for its aluminum panels is not up to scratch. They suggest airborne contaminants, perhaps even tiny iron particles, are getting under the paint and causing the corrosion problems. That’s plausible, particularly given that this problem seems to have started for Jeep with the advent of the aluminum panels used in the JL and JT models. Indeed, Jeep’s own TSB for the repainting procedure states that “When sanding and prep is done you must use clean sanding pads and in a separate room from ferrous metals, as cross contamination will lead to galvanic corrosion.”
images-stag.jazelc.com →Brandi Lynn Lorenz bought her 2019 Jeep Wrangler from a dealer in Washington State. It’s now suffering significant corrosion, but she’s been told she’s not covered by warranty as the car was originally licensed in Canada.
Another theory suggests that the problem stems from the fact that Jeep paints the doors with the hinges already installed. Thus, there’s only a minimal primer coat, if that, between the hinge and the door. Thus, when water or other contaminants get into the hinge grooves, the corrosion problem begins. This could be plausible, though it doesn’t explain corrosion in other areas like the lower areas of the doors. It’s also likely that bolting together a fully-painted hinge and door would damage the paint anyway.
Repair And Despair
Naturally, customers are seeking repairs to their affected vehicles. Jeep offers a 5-year, unlimited mile warranty for corrosion, so a great many owners have pursued a warranty repair on that basis. Repair involves either sanding down the affected panels and repainting them, or replacing them entirely.
Sadly, many have been frustrated by delays and poor repairs. Talk to owners on the JL Corrosion Information group, and they’ll tell you it’s been an unmitigated boondoggle.
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Corrosion on Scott’s Wrangler. Credit: Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson bought his 2019 Jeep Wrangler used in December 2023, picking it up in Tremonton, Utah. Having discovered corrosion on the vehicle, he headed to a local Jeep dealer to get the problem seen to. “They said I needed to go get a quote first from the body shop, as they did not have an in-house shop there,” says Scott. That would turn out to be a mistake.
“Because I got the quote first, it put me 2 days out of warranty,” Scott explains. He was told to contact the Jeep Cares customer assistance line, and he says he was told twice that the issue would be covered. “I had the appointment, and took it in on a Monday,” he says. “At 10 on that Monday they called and said they will not cover the repairs.” He’s followed up multiple times, to no avail. “Now when we call and give them the VIN, they hang-up,” he says. “First time Jeep owner, and last.”
images-stag.jazelc.com →Credit: Todd Spencerimages-stag.jazelc.com →Todd Spencer has seen plenty of Jeeps suffering from this problem. Credit: Todd Spencer
Toddy Spencer is based down in Illinois, and he’s seen the same problems up close. “Mine is a 2018 so I caught right in time,” says Todd. “My corrosion is just on my hinges for now.” He knows he’s not alone, too. “I work for a dealership, and I see corrosion on almost all of them,” he says. As it stands, it’s looking like he’ll get his Jeep sorted by the factory, but there’s a wait involved. “I made a warranty claim back in February and I’m approved for all new door hinges, but parts are so backordered it will be another 6 weeks before they get to mine,” he says.
Complaints of delays abound, along with customers getting the runaround from Jeep Cares and dealerships. Average wait times seem to hover around 6 months to a year for those wanting a solution. Color match issues for repaired vehicles have also hounded some owners.images-stag.jazelc.com →

images-stag.jazelc.com →Credit: Ashley Dalton
In fact, the more I kept digging, the more stories kept coming out of the woodwork. Ashley Dalton shared the photo above, showing a significant color matching issue. “Many [body shops] do not blend into adjacent panels to achieve a decent paint match and hope the customer doesn’t notice,” Ashley told me. “Notice they didn’t blend into the adjacent panel so you can clearly see the mismatched paint at the edge of the door.”
Meanwhile, Paula Kay suffered warranty woes with her badly degrading white Wrangler. “My biggest issue with this is that I was told by Jeep Cares that they will not give me one cent due to being out of warranty, yet every day on here I see people out of warranty getting cost share assistance,” she says. After having an inspection appointment set up with a dealer, she says Jeep wasted her time by not even looking at the pictures taken by the service manager. “How do they pick and choose who they assist when out of warranty?” she asked.
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Paula’s corroding doors and hinges are some of the worst you’ll see.
images-stag.jazelc.com →images-stag.jazelc.com →images-stag.jazelc.com →
The Autopian has contacted Stellantis regarding the cause of these Jeep corrosion issues. As it stands, it appears a significant proportion of JL and JT models are affected. Used buyers would do well to carefully inspect any vehicles of this generation, and new buyers would be well advised to pay close attention to any warning signs on the paint.
It may be only a cosmetic issue, but it’s one that has seriously pissed off a great many Jeep owners. It’s not unreasonable for them to expect a five-year-old car to keep its paint intact. Much like the manual transmission issues Jeep has faced of late, it’s another case of Jeep failing at the very basics, and stumbling on repairs to boot.
(Image credits: Todd Spencer, Scott Anderson, Tristan Ray Geddes, Ashley Dalton, Paula Kay, Jeep)
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The post Owners Are Furious About The Jeep JL Wrangler’s Corrosion Issues appeared first on The Autopian.

 

[TheNewGuy]

This article was posted but no longer appears on their website?
Autopian: Jeep owners are furious about the corrosion issue

Pasting full article below (in case folks can't find it archived on Google/etc)-->
Rust was once the bugaboo of every car owner in the land. Eventually, technology improved, and now it’s largely a solved problem for those in drier communities, at least. For modern Jeep Wrangler owners, though, corrosion in another form is rearing its ugly head. It’s all about aluminum.
The issue concerns bubbling and flaking paint and corrosion, most commonly seen on the door hinges and door panels of affected vehicles. The blight affects both the JT Jeep Gladiator and the JL Jeep Wrangler, and can seemingly affect any of these vehicles built from 2018 onwards. In turn, this common pain point has become a topic of much discussion on forums and beyond.
Corrosion is one problem, but for many owners, the response from Jeep has only compounded the issue. Scores of customers have reported their issues to dealers, and many have been left frustrated and unsatisfied in turn. So what’s going on?
images-stag.jazelc.com →The corrosion is ugly, and at its worst, leads to paint flaking off entirely. Note the chalky, pitted appearance of the aluminum underneath. Credit: Todd SpencerCorrosion, But How?
The modern Wrangler (and Gladiator in turn) picked up a number of aluminum components in the latest generation. The aim was to cut weight and improve efficiency in turn. The JL model hit the market with an aluminum hood, tailgate, and doors, while the main chassis still relied on steel.
By eliminating the use of steel in these components, there’s no risk of rust, but that doesn’t mean there’s no risk of corrosion. Typically, it naturally forms a hardy aluminum oxide barrier on its surface. Unlike iron oxide, this layer is tough and remains bonded to the base material. However, under the right conditions, aluminum can still suffer deleterious corrosion. Still, if properly painted and prepared, an aluminum panel should hold up to regular environmental conditions with little to no corrosion for many years.
images-stag.jazelc.com →

images-stag.jazelc.com →Much ink is spilled over the corrosion near the door hinges, but many owners are finding other parts of their doors are corroding, too. Credit: Tristan Ray Geddes
In the case of the Wrangler, though, corrosion is popping up in vehicles just a few years, or even months, after delivery. This corrosion is most typically seen as bubbling on the door hinges, or on the door panel in the surrounding area. Other common areas include the lower part of the door panel itself. In mild cases, small bubbles under the paint aren’t particularly noticeable, but the problem can easily progress to the point where large chunks of paint are flaking off entirely.
One of the prime ways that aluminum can corrode is when it comes into contact with a different type of metal. This is referred to as “galvanic corrosion” or “dissimilar metal corrosion.” This has led to a widespread belief in the Jeep community that the hinges themselves are the problem. Endless videos and forum posts claim that Jeep’s combination of steel hinges with aluminum doors is the root cause of the corrosion issue.images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Jeep is aware of the aluminum corrosion issues, as evidenced in its Technical Service Bulletins.
However, a reality check suggests that’s not entirely accurate. The simple fact is that the JL Wrangler’s door hinges are made of aluminum, not steel. Furthermore, if that were the source of the issue, Jeep’s engineers could have solved the issue years ago with a simple part substitution. Some have suggested that the steel doors bolts are the cause, but it’s not s likely explanation. Particularly given many owners are seeing corrosion and bubbling occur in areas like the lower door panel, where there are no fasteners or steel parts at all.
And yet, a move from Jeep to rectify the issue has added fuel to this common theory. In February this year, Stellantis issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) regarding the matter. It instructs technicians to replace any corroded hinges with a new part that comes with a zinc shim. Zinc is often used as a “sacrificial anode” on submerged metal parts on ships. Thanks to Zinc’s greater potential for oxidation than metals like steel, it preferentially corrodes while leaving the structure intact. It hints at a galvanic corrosion issue at play here.
images-stag.jazelc.com →Jeep’s hinge TSB, via NHTSA.
It’s an interesting move from Jeep, and the reasoning behind it isn’t immediately obvious. The Autopian has reached out to Jeep more more information on the matter. It’s true that zinc will typically preferentially corrode over aluminum or steel. However, in this situation, having the shim corrode between the door and door hinge would be undesirable. It would lead to the hinge/door interface becoming loose over time, and there would still be unsightly corrosion byproducts, to boot. It could simply be a method to delay corrosion of the hinge/door area, rather than to stop it entirely.
Alternative theories are floating around various forums, some of which are more believable than others. Some suggest that Jeep’s paint process for its aluminum panels is not up to scratch. They suggest airborne contaminants, perhaps even tiny iron particles, are getting under the paint and causing the corrosion problems. That’s plausible, particularly given that this problem seems to have started for Jeep with the advent of the aluminum panels used in the JL and JT models. Indeed, Jeep’s own TSB for the repainting procedure states that “When sanding and prep is done you must use clean sanding pads and in a separate room from ferrous metals, as cross contamination will lead to galvanic corrosion.”
images-stag.jazelc.com →Brandi Lynn Lorenz bought her 2019 Jeep Wrangler from a dealer in Washington State. It’s now suffering significant corrosion, but she’s been told she’s not covered by warranty as the car was originally licensed in Canada.
Another theory suggests that the problem stems from the fact that Jeep paints the doors with the hinges already installed. Thus, there’s only a minimal primer coat, if that, between the hinge and the door. Thus, when water or other contaminants get into the hinge grooves, the corrosion problem begins. This could be plausible, though it doesn’t explain corrosion in other areas like the lower areas of the doors. It’s also likely that bolting together a fully-painted hinge and door would damage the paint anyway.
Repair And Despair
Naturally, customers are seeking repairs to their affected vehicles. Jeep offers a 5-year, unlimited mile warranty for corrosion, so a great many owners have pursued a warranty repair on that basis. Repair involves either sanding down the affected panels and repainting them, or replacing them entirely.
Sadly, many have been frustrated by delays and poor repairs. Talk to owners on the JL Corrosion Information group, and they’ll tell you it’s been an unmitigated boondoggle.
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Corrosion on Scott’s Wrangler. Credit: Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson bought his 2019 Jeep Wrangler used in December 2023, picking it up in Tremonton, Utah. Having discovered corrosion on the vehicle, he headed to a local Jeep dealer to get the problem seen to. “They said I needed to go get a quote first from the body shop, as they did not have an in-house shop there,” says Scott. That would turn out to be a mistake.
“Because I got the quote first, it put me 2 days out of warranty,” Scott explains. He was told to contact the Jeep Cares customer assistance line, and he says he was told twice that the issue would be covered. “I had the appointment, and took it in on a Monday,” he says. “At 10 on that Monday they called and said they will not cover the repairs.” He’s followed up multiple times, to no avail. “Now when we call and give them the VIN, they hang-up,” he says. “First time Jeep owner, and last.”
images-stag.jazelc.com →Credit: Todd Spencerimages-stag.jazelc.com →Todd Spencer has seen plenty of Jeeps suffering from this problem. Credit: Todd Spencer
Toddy Spencer is based down in Illinois, and he’s seen the same problems up close. “Mine is a 2018 so I caught right in time,” says Todd. “My corrosion is just on my hinges for now.” He knows he’s not alone, too. “I work for a dealership, and I see corrosion on almost all of them,” he says. As it stands, it’s looking like he’ll get his Jeep sorted by the factory, but there’s a wait involved. “I made a warranty claim back in February and I’m approved for all new door hinges, but parts are so backordered it will be another 6 weeks before they get to mine,” he says.
Complaints of delays abound, along with customers getting the runaround from Jeep Cares and dealerships. Average wait times seem to hover around 6 months to a year for those wanting a solution. Color match issues for repaired vehicles have also hounded some owners.images-stag.jazelc.com →

images-stag.jazelc.com →Credit: Ashley Dalton
In fact, the more I kept digging, the more stories kept coming out of the woodwork. Ashley Dalton shared the photo above, showing a significant color matching issue. “Many [body shops] do not blend into adjacent panels to achieve a decent paint match and hope the customer doesn’t notice,” Ashley told me. “Notice they didn’t blend into the adjacent panel so you can clearly see the mismatched paint at the edge of the door.”
Meanwhile, Paula Kay suffered warranty woes with her badly degrading white Wrangler. “My biggest issue with this is that I was told by Jeep Cares that they will not give me one cent due to being out of warranty, yet every day on here I see people out of warranty getting cost share assistance,” she says. After having an inspection appointment set up with a dealer, she says Jeep wasted her time by not even looking at the pictures taken by the service manager. “How do they pick and choose who they assist when out of warranty?” she asked.
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →
images-stag.jazelc.com →Paula’s corroding doors and hinges are some of the worst you’ll see.
images-stag.jazelc.com →images-stag.jazelc.com →images-stag.jazelc.com →
The Autopian has contacted Stellantis regarding the cause of these Jeep corrosion issues. As it stands, it appears a significant proportion of JL and JT models are affected. Used buyers would do well to carefully inspect any vehicles of this generation, and new buyers would be well advised to pay close attention to any warning signs on the paint.
It may be only a cosmetic issue, but it’s one that has seriously pissed off a great many Jeep owners. It’s not unreasonable for them to expect a five-year-old car to keep its paint intact. Much like the manual transmission issues Jeep has faced of late, it’s another case of Jeep failing at the very basics, and stumbling on repairs to boot.
(Image credits: Todd Spencer, Scott Anderson, Tristan Ray Geddes, Ashley Dalton, Paula Kay, Jeep)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.

• Here’s Why You Might Not Want To Buy A Third-Generation Toyota Prius
• The Popular BMW B58 Inline-Six Engine Has One Big Achilles Heel
• Here’s Why Busted Plastic Grille Flaps On A Newer Car Can Cause A Check Engine Light
• If You Want To Buy A Cheap Jaguar, Here’s An Engine You Should Probably Avoid
• Honda Pilots Only Just Stopped Featuring This Ancient Engine Technology That Most Cars Abandoned Over 50 Years Ago

Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
The post Owners Are Furious About The Jeep JL Wrangler’s Corrosion Issues appeared first on The Autopian.

Yeah, the author was on the Facebook corrosion page about a week ago soliciting people's experiences.

 

[melendez69]

I read the repost this morning. I couldn't get over the images...

 

[mclaugh]

It's not just you- when we joined (basically the same week in 2018), never thought the main "rust issue" would be beneath the paint on the doors and hood!

 

[Chupacabra]

Just checked, the article is available for me anyway. And yes I am a bit concerned about the corrosion issue on my 2021. So far I have none. It's approaching 4 years old so I still have 1 year of coverage should it happen, but I'd be pissed too if mine started doing that.

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