Cracked top on brand new 2024 Gladiator Nighthawk

[jac04]

You’re kidding, right?

Nope. My JTM was damaged during warranty service. Luckily, it was a replaceable interior panel. I ended up replacing it myself, but the dealer provided the part for free. I don't trust anyone working on my vehicles.

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[WILDHOBO]

I guess we'll find out, buy only if Jeep actually replaces the top under warranty. The OP may never make it to that step.

Why wouldn’t they?

 

[jac04]

Why would they?

 

[WILDHOBO]

My wife is Japanese.

People don’t think when they type.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Why would they?

You seriously think they should forego getting their brand new top replaced because dealers make mistakes? This isn’t a choice to do your own maintenance. The dealer is the only way to fix this. They absolutely should go to the dealer and have it replaced.

 

[p0lpot]

last update: I received a call this morning that the dealer is swapping it out from another vehicle.

 

[jac04]

Maybe I need to clarify. I don't think that the OP will be offered a new replacement top under warranty for the current existing crack. My prediction is that it will be acknowledged as a purely cosmetic issue and the dealer will offer to touch it up.

And, yes, if I were in the OP's situation, I would not want the dealership replacing the top because of its current condition. If the crack propagates, then I would want the top replaced. But right now, I see having the top replaced with a new replacement as an "out of the frying pan and into the fire" situation.

But, not looking to argue, all of this is just my opinion. I hope everything works out for the OP.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Maybe I need to clarify. I don't think that the OP will be offered a new replacement top under warranty for the current existing crack. My prediction is that it will be acknowledged as a purely cosmetic issue and the dealer will offer to touch it up.

And, yes, if I were in the OP's situation, I would not want the dealership replacing the top because of its current condition. If the crack propagates, then I would want the top replaced. But right now, I see having the top replaced with a new replacement as an "out of the frying pan and into the fire" situation.

But, not looking to argue, all of this is just my opinion. I hope everything works out for the OP.

It’s not cosmetic, as it’s where a fastener holds the top secure. I don’t see a replacement top as being risky in any way at all. They’re not pulling a transmission. It’s a part that can be replaced by anyone.

 

[jac04]

IMO, it's cosmetic. The crack is just in the inner surface.

Anyhow, looks like the OP will get a top swapped from another vehicle on the lot and that's good (assuming the other top doesn't have any issues). As I predicted, not a new top under warranty. And, the OP's top will end up right back on the other vehicle. No $ spent by Jeep on warranty, and the dealership eats an hour of labor to make a customer happy.

 

[WILDHOBO]

IMO, it's cosmetic. The crack is just in the inner surface.

Anyhow, looks like the OP will get a top swapped from another vehicle on the lot and that's good (assuming the other top doesn't have any issues). As I predicted, not a new top under warranty. And, the OP's top will end up right back on the other vehicle. No $ spent by Jeep on warranty, and the dealership eats an hour of labor to make a customer happy.

The dealer will warranty claim the top on the other Jeep. This just saves time for the customer. Good customer service. No one else will end up with that top.

 

[berb]

Thank you very much for the suggestion. I had already thought about going over everything after the top replacement.

Why would that be an issue. the top is meant to be taken off and put back on. If they replace the top with a new one there should be any issues. It won't leak. (My comment was in reference to the person you replied to that suggested a new top would leak.)

 

[Sweetums]

Minor correction-- I had a 1G Tacoma with frame rot. It wasn't because it was cheap steel, thinner steel, etc -- it was because the mix of alloys used at the foundry to make the steel over-reacted to road salt. There's plenty of old Toyotas running in the Sunbelt. I wonder if an anode would have helped?

And what was it that made that alloy more attractive? Cost. Iron reacts with salt and it's way cheaper than nickel and the other metals used to make steel.

Toyota also had a dumb design that trapped water and was difficult to get anti-rust coatings into. The Gen1 and Gen2 taco frames were a failure at every level - and they aren't even strong! I swear my old XJ had less chassis flex, and it was made out of some kind of soft cheese.

 

[jac04]

The dealer will warranty claim the top on the other Jeep. This just saves time for the customer. Good customer service. No one else will end up with that top.

You state this like it's a fact, but it's really just your opinion, just like it's my opinion that they will simply swap tops.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You state this like it's a fact, but it's really just your opinion, just like it's my opinion that they will simply swap tops.

Yet it only makes sense. It’s a warranty item. Why would the dealer risk having the next customer unhappy with damage? It’ll cost them nothing to get Jeep to ship a new one. It would make zero sense for them to put a broken part on a new unsold vehicle.

 

[p0lpot]

I just got back from the dealer. I actually received a top with the Sound Deadening on it. I am leaving a 5 star review for the dealership.

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