Prospective Rubicon purchase

[Bugly]

Hello all,
I have been looking for a Jeep Rubicon for the past 8 months. The current one I am looking at is a 2025 with 35,000 miles. This Jeep was a rental per CarFax. I went to look at it again today and found that the doors were unlocked. Checked the cabin and the seats and carpets look new like a 2025 should. Everything smelled good. Ran my hand under the rear driver's side floor mat and the main carpet was dry. Did the same to the front driver's side floor mat and found the carpet to be damp. Not soaking wet but damp. Now I know Wrangler hard tops leak, just didn't expect it on a one-year-old Jeep. So my question is this...are roof leaks part of Jeep ownership? My Hummer leaked and I kept it dry as good as anyone. If it's a Jeep thing I can deal with it. Just want to know if this is common in a Wrangler of this age. Thanks for any advice,

Regards,

Kevin

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[WillysMeow]

It's winter, might just be peeps wet feet getting in and out and/or rain and snow getting in while door/window are open.

 

[Ratbert]

No, it's not normal for hard tops or SOTs to leak.

Water from people getting in and out should have been on top of the mats, not underneath.

 

[StartedWith97TJ]

No, it's not normal for hard tops or SOTs to leak.

Water from people getting in and out should have been on top of the mats, not underneath.

I second this. JLs should not be leaking. Maybe they recently cleaned the carpets and they are still drying. I would make sure the test drive includes a car wash or trip to your hose.

Good luck!

 

[WillysMeow]

No, it's not normal for hard tops or SOTs to leak.

Water from people getting in and out should have been on top of the mats, not underneath.

Agreed on tops not leaking, but when it's raining and I open either front door the roof gutter usually pours right onto the doorsill which then runs straight down under the factory rubber floormats.

 

[yokramer]

If water is under the mats its likely the windshield area that is leaking rather than the top.

 

[azjl#3]

Does it look like it was on the beach, as in salt water? At 35,000 miles it was probably abused and put away wet like you found, I would avoid

 

[WXman]

JLs typically are good about not leaking, but, a lot of people do not take care to put the freedom panels back in correctly. If they are rough with them, it can screw up the seals and then you can get a leak. Not the fault of the JL though....

 

[Penguin07]

Unless the price is really amazing... I tend to shy away from rentals... Especially on a vehicle like Wrangler.

 

[Ratbert]

Agreed on tops not leaking, but when it's raining and I open either front door the roof gutter usually pours right onto the doorsill which then runs straight down under the factory rubber floormats.

I'm pretty sure the seals were redesigned early on to mostly mitigate that issue.

 

[There’sOnlyOne]

water under the mat or under the carpet could be from the floor drain plug. if the plug is missing or not installed properly it will let water intrude. also, if it has the factory floor liners, they have a drain plug connection for hosing out the floor liner without removal and letting the water flow out. if you pull the carpet plug out for that connection water can seep in from the underside. so, check the plugs. along with other suggestions above.

jeep did add a "gutter" piece to the door surround seal on the A-pillar area in like 2021 models and newer. it catches some of the water that pours off the hardtop when opening doors in rain or after having water on top. but it does not catch or redirect all the water. you still get a stream of water straight down in the floor area and on your legs. that is a jeep thing. that's a lot of miles in one year even for a rental. if this has to be the one I would definitely want a complete service record and what parts of the country it was rented in. and if the price is just "oh my god that is cheap", looking at a new old stock 2025 or a new 2026 might be a better deal with being brand new, no miles and warranty. I bet the rental place will want to sell you a warranty. add that to what a new one would be with a factory warranty. right now, there are dealers that have $15k off new wranglers. or even a used one at a good price but with way less mileage and would still have factory warranty on it. good luck and enjoy which ever jeep you purchase.

 

[Heimkehr]

a 2025 with 35,000 miles.

Now I know Wrangler hard tops leak

are roof leaks part of Jeep ownership?

The soft top on my '21 hasn't leaked yet, and I've looked for signs of water infiltration after driving through heavy rainfall.

I'd expect a hard top to be at least as watertight.

Post #11 has additional and relevant intel on the subject.

 

[NMPirate]

I don't know about anyone else, but when I drive a rental vehicle I kind of "drive it like I stole it". If there is any way to verify it's previous use and abuse, it might be a good deal. Many years ago, a buddy of mine came to town and rented a Mustang GT. He got bored one night and took it to the drag races and won 1st place for street class. When he dropped off the car at the airport he had the trophy in his hand. I imagine rental Jeeps are beat like a rented mule also.

 

[Ang1Sgt]

My 2020 was originally a Florida Soft Top Jeep that the first owner decided to change to a Hard Top for her security. Being it was in Florida, she did nothing about the Rear Window Defogger, Rear Wiper or the switches needed.

SO I bought it used and caught all of this before purchase because even the Dealer missed it.

I’ve had it now almost 4 years and have not had an issue with leaks. Now drips when the doors open from the forward edge of the door gaskets are very common.

3 years ago I put my Freedom panels in the carry bag for the last time. I replaced those with the Bestop Sunrider top that replaces the Panels and make open air travel so much easier. To test things out after I installed the Sunrider, I took it through my best Car Wash in the area. No leaks! And after 3 years of use it is still leak free.

 

[azjl#3]

In the military, we proudly claimed in rentals, no ditch to deep no curb to high. Humorously, only problem we ever had, in Cold Lake Canada, two 14 year old stole the van from in front of the bar we got drunk at. Had to call taxi. Mounty none to happy we were thinking of driving home, sorry officer mounty dude, taxi for us, they stole the van.

Found it a week later 1,000 miles away

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