Throwing 'Quality Control' out the window

[ELJL]

My 22 build, that I waited 6 months for, also has factory hardtop paint issues. The dealer is assisting with a warranty repair, but I also feel it isnt right to issue factory defects to a pre-sold unit customer. I’m a bit bruised over it, despite understanding paint is paint, and it can be repaired… hopefully… right, the first time. ?

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[Johnjohn]

I think that's kind of the bigger picture issue with not just the JL but other models including those outside of Stellantis as well. The Ford Bronco is a perfect example of this (mind you this is their first run at the product so they can get away with a little bit of "oops" here and there). You could buy a totally stripped out Bronco and it'll still experience the same basic problems that a Bronco Badlands Sasquatch would encounter with a $30,000 markup (ecoboost valve drop ). The thing that absolutely kills me with the JL is a basic corrosion preventative coating and paint job should be good enough that it doesn't immediately turn to $hit within 300 miles when exposed to the elements. You'd think these have been around long enough that Jeep would know better. I seem to recall people losing their minds over the amount of orange peel in factory paint jobs from GM back about 20 years ago but they never really experienced the same garbage corrosion issues despite the paint quality being 'MEH'.

The responses thus far have been great btw. It's about what I figured everyone would respond with and isn't surprising at all regardless of your personal positions. Products can only get better with feedback regardless of negative or positive and the more we elevate the awareness of things like this, the more likely it'll ruffle some feathers somewhere along the line up in corporate. At least that's the hope anyway. Jeep and other manufacturers could very easily just say "Well our profit margins say that it isn't worth caring about so F it".

For what it's worth, thank you ALL for your input so far.

You know what, the bronco issues with QC is up there or on par with Stelantis however, I have not heard yet once where Ford hasn’t owned up to their issues with production i.e. the hardtop and now the engine. I’ve had Chrysler Dodge Jeep products and I’ve had quality control issues with each of them. They do play hard to get when it comes to accountability and responsibility. More like insurance adjusters.

 

[Johnjohn]

People act like this is something new. Jeep has not exactly been known for quality workmanship for quite some time. The early JLs had weld issues. All model years are plagued with thin/missing paint. The 3.6 has rocker issues. We keep buying them so why would they change anything?

Yeah, we know, we know…
But when you spend North of 30 to 40 K, you still feel it!

 

[TimmH]

I don't even know if the QC is really the problem IMO.

Defects happen, it's how the retailer and manufacturer deal with them that makes the difference.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

Lol, don't bother me none that you'll quietly enjoy your spit-on burnt steak and are too reserved to tell your life partner sitting across from you that his or her food was spit on too. Might as well smile and tell the guys at the other table that everything's delicious

As you might've noticed around here, bitching to your local dealer or FCA about a problem often doesn't get anything accomplished either, though NHTSA sometimes will depending on the issue. I get that raising a stink on your social media feed or whatever equivalent bullshit outlet probably won't get a problem solved either, but imo, there's absolutely nothing wrong with expressing your displeasure (or satisfaction) with something on a forum dedicated to discussing exactly these topics (among many others). Forums that are often actively monitored by manufacturers looking for customer feedback. It's also quite helpful for letting other consumers know what they might expect when purchasing the same, so hopefully they can make a more informed decision based on others' experiences.

If you don't wanna hear other people's personal opinions and experiences about their Jeep on a Jeep internet forum, then I don't know what to tell you and the other guy. "It's a Jeep thing, so shut the fuck up and stop complaining" isn't all that useful either, but whatever, enjoy your steak!

I’m sorry you have experienced so much bad steak in life my friend. I found the Sous Vide and have never gone back to an overpriced steak, I recommend it! I’ve learned to choose where to expend my energy after retiring from the military, that was enough uphill battles to last a lifetime lol.

 

[jjvincent]

Coming from someone that has worked on a vast array of vehicles, the Wrangler is pretty bad when it comes to QC. Mine has had a number of issues that I have posted here before. In addition to the assembly, there are a few parts which are really below par for what they are designed to do and I do not see any revisions to them either.

If you want quality, reliability and a vehicle that will survive a beating over the long term, go buy a Honda or Toyota. Specifically the Civic, Corolla, Accord, Camry, Rav4, CRV, Sienna or Odyssey. Those things will go 10-15 years with little or no maintenance. The owners typically have no warranty issues and finally get rid of them because they cranked out 300K and it's getting old. I will say this, never buy a Nissan Rouge, they beat the Jeep hands down for lack of QC and sub par parts. On the other hand, they keep me busy replacing parts, so junk cars are a blessing in disguise.

It's actually been the running joke in the shop as to what will break next on my Jeep.

 

[JGrant]

There's plenty of owners out here that are going to echo these comments and plenty of other owners that are gonna be like "So what? Get over it". I know the market is insane and Jeep is going full send on production to make orders happen, but sacrificing quality to make it happen isn't good either. I hate to say it but, @JeepCares this is the kind of rushed work that is getting skipped in production and pissing owners off.
Brand New 392 with less than 300 miles on the chassis.


For argument sake, yes, it's Litebrite's new build on a brand new 392. In fairness though, how many owners have experienced the same kind of failings in QC from Jeep lately? Between paint that's bubbling on the body to skimping on proper corrosion prevention, this sort of laziness is obnoxious and unacceptable to see in a product that can cost anywhere from $30,000 all the way north of $95,000. I've seen Kia's with less rust than this after 80,000 miles.

Am I crazy or is this just part of the whole "well, it's a Jeep so get used to it" experience? I'm thankful my 4xe has been relatively rust free since I ordered it, but this is getting ridiculous for a model that retails just shy of 80 grand.

My Jeep has been in the shop more times in the 3.5 years I’ve owned it than I’ve driven it. Almost EVERYTHING that could go wrong has. It even has a crack in the plastic over the instrument cluster that they won’t cover and I don’t even off-road it. They DID just replace my rear axle and again, I might take this thing on the occasional dirt road is all. It’s very disappointing…because it’s a fun, nice looking vehicle…but an absolute mechanical nightmare to deal with. :’(. Maybe someday people will get the jist…but not if we keep buying them.

 

[Wbino]

The last time Chrysler was known for quality was around 1970. The last time most American cars were known for good quality was around 1970. It's been all rapidly downhill from there. Greed and unions killed the American car industry. Corporate greed cut corners in quality and gave rise to the unions. Union greed normalized lack of quality. You could almost pinpoint a time, around the mid 1960's, when car manufacturers were starting to cut corners for profit and quality decreased. The Chevy Impala is a good example. If you see what the Impala was made of and looked like, starting in 1959 and going to 1969, the quality of materials greatly decreased over those years especially in the mid 1960's. A more precise example is the Pontiac GTO. The 1965 GTO had tail lights that looked like this:

Those were apparently "too expensive" to make, so in 1966 and beyond the taillights got a cheaper makeover:

My point in all this rambling I guess is that in the American car industry, starting in the mid 1960's, lower quality materials were standardized in the name of corporate greed and lower quality labor was standardized by the unions. That's why Europe had to save Chrysler and the government had to save GM. And of course the Japanese absolutely cleaned our clocks.

Explain how unions result in lower quality. ?

 

[Hearhear]

Explain how unions result in lower quality. ?

Same way teachers unions result in lower quality teachers. You can't fire anybody without jumping through hoops and proving your case. I think unions started out with good intentions and did a lot of good for workers rights in the beginning. Some unions still do good work. But now they're big business, and they protect members above the company good. Look at GM. Unions would rather see GM go bankrupt instead of streamlining and improving labor quality. Unions can be very parasitic and kill their host.

 

[aldo98229]

Unionizing is a response to poor management, as simple as that. The Big 3 treated workers like shit before they unionized.

But unions are not always the cause of bad quality. They can be, but so can be shitty management, extreme cost-cutting, etc.

Just look at the unfolding Bronco debacle: most of those problems are the direct result of poor management decisions.

 

[Wbino]

Same way teachers unions result in lower quality teachers. You can't fire anybody without jumping through hoops and proving your case. I think unions started out with good intentions and did a lot of good for workers rights in the beginning. Some unions still do good work. But now they're big business, and they protect members above the company good. Look at GM. Unions would rather see GM go bankrupt instead of streamlining and improving labor quality. Unions can be very parasitic and kill their host.

Sports are unionized, when a Quarterback throws an interception it's the unions fault?

 

[Hearhear]

Sports are unionized, when a Quarterback throws an interception it's the unions fault?

No all I'm saying is that unions have their place, and they did do a lot of good for workers rights. No argument there. Today though, well since the 1950's really, unions have become a business and don't seem to care about the company their workers depend on. Same with schools. I'm not saying unions cause poor performance, but they do allow it to continue longer than it should due to the strict firing procedures they force companies to follow. If I was a low skill worker afraid of getting fired for bad performance, no better gig than to join a union. Same with assembly line workers and teachers as well.

 

[aldo98229]

JD Power reports today that initial quality has fallen 11% from last year. Goes to show that this is a widespread issue.

They blame ongoing supply disruptions, work-from-home and skyrocketing prices.

https://www.autonews.com/retail/jd-power-vehicle-quality-sinks-new-low

The "good" news is that other brands have worsened much more than Jeep:

 

[YippieKiYayMrFalcon]

The "good" news is that other brands have worsened much more than Jeep:

hard to fall far when you’re not very high up

 

[aldo98229]

hard to fall far when you’re not very high up

True. But that is small consolation for owners of those brands that have fallen hard, like Audi, Mercedes, Hyundai, Subaru, Acura, Honda ...

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