Jeeps have become legendary among those who like playing in the great outdoors thanks to their rugged, capable nature. But a problem which has largely been conquered in the auto industry for quite some time is rearing its ugly head, possibly explaining in part why Jeep sales have stumbled recently. That’s right, Wrangler JLs and Gladiator JTs are suffering from corrosion problems and owners are mad.
Child actor attacks a Jeep and gets arrested.
If you had a vehicle that’s only a few years old, you wash and wax/ceramic coat it regularly, and yet the paint starts bubbling as corrosion takes hold of the metal underneath, you’d be pretty upset. Just take a walk through different Jeep forum posts, like this one or this one and you’ll see just how fed up some are with the Jeep brand over this.
After all, Wrangler JLs and Gladiator JTs aren’t exactly cheap. Paying top dollar for something which you would hope is durable for at least a reasonable amount of time, only to find the doors, tailgate, and/or hinges bubbling from corrosion is understandably upsetting.
According to multiple sources, the problem is galvanic corrosion caused by the steel hinges sitting in contact with the aluminum doors or tailgate. The chemical reaction causes the paint to bubble and can lead to rust taking hold.
Thankfully, a dealership which understands this sadly common issue can fix the problem under your Jeep’s warranty. Yeah, we know getting warranty work done can sometimes be a pain, even though it shouldn’t be, but it’s either that or deal with continual corrosion problems.
YouTuber Dirt Road Cred counsels Jeep owners to find a dealer who has fixed this problem over and over in the past. He says they’ll know how to fill out the warranty paperwork properly and will outsource the solution to a qualified local body shop so it doesn’t keep hounding you.
We’ve seen people in Jeep forums complain that their dealer supposedly fixed the corrosion problem around their hinges only to have it return months later. So getting it repaired the right way is the best way.
What’s a mystery is why Jeep doesn’t just correct this known problem in the factory. Surely it’s hurting the brand’s image, driving people to buy a competing off-roader. Corporations sometimes do funny things and if you’ve stuck with Jeep long enough, you know it isn’t immune.
So if you see bubbling around your Jeep Wrangler JL or Gladiator JT hinges, don’t panic. Just find a dealership that has experience fixing the problem under warranty so you won’t have to deal with it again, all for free.
Image via Stellantis
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