Track bar frame weld issue recall! [Updated with official UA5 recall notice w/ repair procedure]

[RubiBlu18]

My 18 RUBICON JLU is not on the list from an August build date. I will definitely look into the aftermarket brace though for added precaution.

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[Jeepsterfreak]

I believe the frame is manufactured by Hyundai. This is a vendor issue for FCA.
Yes they could have caught them but only 800 are believed to be problematic

Frame is manufactured by Tower International, unless FCA is using multiple suppliers now.

Hyundai Mobis assembles the chassis/drive train then sends the rolling chassis to FCA for final assembly.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

Looks like the Class Actions are starting...

https://www.krcomplexlit.com/2018/10/keller-rohrback-investigates-jeep-wrangler-frame-weld-failures/



I've included just a few of my Welds. I have tons of other pics, but these give an idea as to what all of the rest look like.

The last pic looks like it definitely fails FCA’s porosity spec of <6.5mm per 25mm of weld. It even has a blue inpection marking drawn over the weld. What the heck?

 

[jmr2018]

My first jeep, I have a total of 1245 miles, now one recall and had to replace the driver's side Premium soft top panel. Premium Jeep price, FIAT quality. Not happy...

 

[old8tora]

My first jeep, I have a total of 1245 miles, now one recall and had to replace the driver's side Premium soft top panel. Premium Jeep price, FIAT quality. Not happy...

Self-contradictory to pay a premium price for a simple Jeep . Jeeps are supposed to be inexpensive and utilitarian .

 

[vavaroutsos]

I believe the frame is manufactured by Hyundai. This is a vendor issue for FCA.
Yes they could have caught them but only 800 are believed to be problematic

Tower makes the frames.

 

[old8tora]

Tower makes the frames.

Who made the robots ? China ?

 

[vavaroutsos]

I posted photos in the rear track bar thread and there appears to be a indent/ crack on the frame side which also is alarming. My front welds look better than the rear which isn’t saying much. This further proves the point that if the front track bar welds are in question than what about the structural integrity of the rest of the welds on the frame.

As mentioned earlier this is a family vehicle and at this point I scared to have my family in it.

Front and rear welds for reference:

That indent is not a crack. Every Jeep I checked at the dealership was the same. I think it was die cut by design as part of the forming. I just don't understand why there aren't small holes at each end of the cut to eliminate high stress points.

 

[melendez69]

I was in Ocean Isle Beach this weekend when I read the recall announcement... NHTSA has mine as a recall, so the drive back home to Charlotte was nerve-wracking. I've learned a few things from those who have offered insight into this and from those who shared their experiences with having their track bars ripped away (thanks to all). I'm grateful and thankful for not having a catastrophe during the trip, but it's not worth the risk. I don't know a good weld from a bad one, but regardless, @UNC Rubicon had the best advice... I'll keep it parked even if it looks good.

 

[SWIRVN]

That indent is not a crack. Every Jeep I checked at the dealership was the same. I think it was die cut by design as part of the forming. I just don't understand why there aren't small holes at each end of the cut to eliminate high stress points.

Good to hear that this is systemic then and not isolated. In the other topic with the rear track bar there were two different weld patterns on the bracket. What a cluster f*%k...

 

[sc7902]

Mine look ok...but how can you really be sure they have enough meat in the weld?..mfg 01/2018.

 

[NCJeepn73]

My rear sway bar brackets were rewelded by an FCA welder. They were pretty bad with porosity out of spec and the re-welds were only grinded down to about half way, then another partial weld added on.

My issue with FCA rewelding over bad welds is that some of the original welds have to be taken down to the bracket edge/lip, or weld toes. Each welder is going to apply slightly different skills and technique, and who is to say that the best results will occur for each one "fixed."

As you can see from my re-welds, the results were quite bad. And as I said earlier, two CWIs agreed so much that they wrote independent letters detailing how poorly done the re-welds were.

 

[Capt-Zoom]

+1 on Rustys bracket
+1 get ur jeeps checked

 

[Mattius1337]

I'm affected. 2 door sport S, ordered April 17 and received June 28, not sure of exact build date right now. Seems to be alot of 2 doors built in the early summer/late spring, maybe a robot on that particular run was off track?

 

[ALRUI]

And you know that FCA changed colors of markers to signify bad welds how, exactly? C'mon man....the hysteria surrounding this issue is getting a little out of control. Everyone needs to take a deep breath, actually go out and look at their welds and if it's really bad...have it fixed. Surely someone you know knows someone who's a competent welder that will likely weld it up for a few hours pay.

The different colors signify shifts or different inspectors most likely.

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