Wrangler Soft Top torn from Rib

[ramsenk]

Hi all,
New to this forum. I have a 2018 Wrangler Unlimited JL soft top and not too long ago I noticed that the soft top had detached (tore) from the rib framing. This does not cause any issue regarding day to day or safety, but now, if I want to drop the top, I have to fold the soft top carefully and it becomes harder to put the top back up. I took it to my dealership, as it was still under warranty and was told that the warranty does not cover rips in the soft top and because it was the seam that attaches it to the rib that tore free, then it is considered a rip. As I looked online for answers, I have found that this is a fairly common issue with the soft top that comes standard with the car. I see that people have had varying success using vinyl glue/cement in fixing it but was wondering if there were other options. I am surprised that no "recall" or similar fix has been put through by Jeep since this issue does seem to happen with some frequency. Thanks

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[Heimkehr]

Paging @Bestop for comments here.

(@ramsenk -- They're the company that manufactures the OEM tops for the Wrangler.)

 

[ramsenk]

Paging @Bestop for comments here.

(@ramsenk -- They're the company that manufactures the OEM tops for the Wrangler.)

Thank you

 

[Cateachertom]

Hi all,
New to this forum. I have a 2018 Wrangler Unlimited JL soft top and not too long ago I noticed that the soft top had detached (tore) from the rib framing. This does not cause any issue regarding day to day or safety, but now, if I want to drop the top, I have to fold the soft top carefully and it becomes harder to put the top back up. I took it to my dealership, as it was still under warranty and was told that the warranty does not cover rips in the soft top and because it was the seam that attaches it to the rib that tore free, then it is considered a rip. As I looked online for answers, I have found that this is a fairly common issue with the soft top that comes standard with the car. I see that people have had varying success using vinyl glue/cement in fixing it but was wondering if there were other options. I am surprised that no "recall" or similar fix has been put through by Jeep since this issue does seem to happen with some frequency. Thanks

I had the same problem with my 21 JLU. I had it covered under warranty. I did end up contacting Jeep car e to help with starting on top of the dealership. It took 2 months for the dealership to get all of the parts and 3 weeks to have the new top put on. I am glad to have the new top as now it retracts. The process was frustrating.

 

[Buckster]

I have the same issue and it seems the best reported fix has been Aleene's fabric glue.
I picked some up a few days ago but haven't attempted the repair yet.

 

[Heimkehr]

I've used fabric glue in other applications. Applied correctly, it's strong as Hades, so it might indeed work for a soft top repair. Proceed carefully.

 

[Bestop]

Hey there!
@ramsenk since you bought the JL with the soft top on it, we wouldn't be able to cover anything under warranty unfortunately, however the suggestion of a fabric glue from @Heimkehr is a good idea. You can also call Customer Service to see if they have any other suggestions, 800.845.3567, option 3, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, MT.
@Heimkehr thanks for the tag!

~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

 

[ramsenk]

Hey there!
@ramsenk since you bought the JL with the soft top on it, we wouldn't be able to cover anything under warranty unfortunately, however the suggestion of a fabric glue from @Heimkehr is a good idea. You can also call Customer Service to see if they have any other suggestions, 800.845.3567, option 3, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, MT.
@Heimkehr thanks for the tag!

~Crystal@Bestop
www.bestop.com

Thank you for your response. I figured as much but I gotta say that its a weird thing not to cover with a warranty considering how common an issue it is with the soft top.

 

[Heimkehr]

...I gotta say that its a weird thing not to cover with a warranty considering how common an issue it is with the soft top.

It's not a common an issue with JL-generation soft tops, insomuch that I've not seen that subject recurringly mentioned, or trending, here since joining the forum 4+ years ago. If it was, and as a fellow soft top owner myself, I'd have carefully archived the cause & solution threads as necessary, if the problem was indeed recurring.

The only thing that comes to mind as a mild owner concern is rub marks when the top is lowered, and for which I started a specific thread.

 

[ramsenk]

It's not a common an issue with JL-generation soft tops, insomuch that I've not seen that subject recurringly mentioned, or trending, here since joining the forum 4+ years ago. If it was, and as a fellow soft top owner myself, I'd have carefully archived the cause & solution threads as necessary, if the problem was indeed recurring.

The only thing that comes to mind as a mild owner concern is rub marks when the top is lowered, and for which I started a specific thread.

It may be just because I have been looking into this for the better part of the last couple of months and it just seems to be happening really often with the JL, littered through different online forums. I just tried the vinyl glue since that is what I have seen the most. Fingers crossed. Still think it should be covered under standard warranty.

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