Fender liner does not like strong headwinds.

[India-ThreeZeroThree]

Such a strange part to experience problems with. Those paper thin fender liners / inner fenders really, not liners.

Driving back we encountered strong head winds. I started to hear a weird howl type noise. Jeeps are weird when it comes to sounds. The noise first came and went intermittently. Along with another weird noise emitting from the AC, later to be found a piece of paper flapping in the intake vent, now I had that other one.

i thought maybe weird wind vibration from driver mirror. Then suspected something with the fender (outer). And checked when I stopped for gas

Ahh, those flimsy as hell inside fender liners.

At some point winds blew strong enough to make the flimsy fender liner catch on the tire and, well.. you know.

i did what I could at that stop and continue. Again the growling noise came back worse. I wondered if it was going to catch and rip all my fender off. I pulled into a gas station and cut off the affected section with a knife.

Ill make a claim to the dealer tomorrow since it’s only at 3500 miles. This would be a defect.
Now here’s the deal. Let’s see how it plays out. Since I bought it I’ve changed the bumper, tires, wheels and did a 1.5 spacer lift. The bumper is a Rubicon copy.. tires are 285/70r17, which is Rubi size. Wheels .. they are all Mopar with part number… Gladiator steel spare wheels. And the 1.5 lift, well the mopar is 2 inches.

We will see what they say.The fender liner has nothing to do with that stuff. But could bring up non OEM stuff interfering. Fingers crossed.

You know like one flipping Christmas tree thingy would have prevented this

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[Rusty PW]

I've had my JT up to 95 mph with no issues like that.

 

[bd100]

Imagine towing 70 into a 30+ headwind. Happened to me once with the old pickup where I realized the pedal was floored in overdrive. I went down a gear to make it easier on the engine and trans, and spent the next hour watching the fuel gauge drop.

 

[Mash5]

Discovered this after having the dealer replace the front shocks and then driving across Navada and the salt flats on I-80 doing about 80MPH with a strong cross wind. New liner was about $90.

I would love an aftermarket alternative but they all seem to be made for taller fenders or something.

 

[Zero_Accel]

Discovered this after having the dealer replace the front shocks and then driving across Navada and the salt flats on I-80 doing about 80MPH with a strong cross wind. New liner was about $90.

I would love an aftermarket alternative but they all seem to be made for taller fenders or something.

I'm using a set of Paramount liners for the front, they're made of ABS so they're a bit firmer and resist flexing a bit better. They'll work with the stock fenders, if you don't mind seeing the support structure on the top. The only bad thing is that I've noticed they've raised the price to over $200 since the last time I bought them. I found ONE store that is selling them for slightly better at $160, although it's still pretty expensive for what they are, you can go to some metal liners for around the same price with some brands.

As for the back, I have some polypropylene liners from Rugged Ridge. These liners are both no drill.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

YUP had the same thing happen to me coming back from MICHIGAN
70 MPH AND A 60 MPH HEAD WIND
Thought wtf when it happened ,covered under warranty

 

[Mash5]

covered under warranty

Are you saying they replaced it under warranty. Perhaps I should ask the dealer when I'm in there.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

Are you saying they replaced it under warranty. Perhaps I should ask the dealer when I'm in there.

YES SIR

 

[Marlinvx]

Mine did the same at <500 miles. Passenger front liner plastic fastener came out for the most forward point. I let someone borrow my truck to run into town at a Jeep meet over Labor Day and they mentioned a rubbing sound on long left turns at speed. We looked, didn't see anything. It did it again on a freeway drive only I was there to hear it this time. It was that stupid liner folding back and rubbing the tire. I used an oversized christmas tree fastener this time...better not come out again.

 

[Akgladiator]

Such a strange part to experience problems with. Those paper thin fender liners / inner fenders really, not liners.

Driving back we encountered strong head winds. I started to hear a weird howl type noise. Jeeps are weird when it comes to sounds. The noise first came and went intermittently. Along with another weird noise emitting from the AC, later to be found a piece of paper flapping in the intake vent, now I had that other one.

i thought maybe weird wind vibration from driver mirror. Then suspected something with the fender (outer). And checked when I stopped for gas

Ahh, those flimsy as hell inside fender liners.

At some point winds blew strong enough to make the flimsy fender liner catch on the tire and, well.. you know.

i did what I could at that stop and continue. Again the growling noise came back worse. I wondered if it was going to catch and rip all my fender off. I pulled into a gas station and cut off the affected section with a knife.

Ill make a claim to the dealer tomorrow since it’s only at 3500 miles. This would be a defect.
Now here’s the deal. Let’s see how it plays out. Since I bought it I’ve changed the bumper, tires, wheels and did a 1.5 spacer lift. The bumper is a Rubicon copy.. tires are 285/70r17, which is Rubi size. Wheels .. they are all Mopar with part number… Gladiator steel spare wheels. And the 1.5 lift, well the mopar is 2 inches.

We will see what they say.The fender liner has nothing to do with that stuff. But could bring up non OEM stuff interfering. Fingers crossed.

You know like one flipping Christmas tree thingy would have prevented this

What do u expect when u molify the vehicle beyond factory design and you complaining about noises and issues that could have rear its head from your bad installation???!!!

I never have werid noise except wind noise from the hardtop in strong wind situation since my vehilce is completely stock!

 

[Mjolnir]

This was an issue for 2020 models. There is a TSB for them.

Surprised to see another thread about it with, if your info is correct, a 22 model?

 

[Hootbro]

Ill make a claim to the dealer tomorrow since it’s only at 3500 miles.

So what is the update? Did they replace them under warranty?

 

[LostWoods]

Mine did the same at <500 miles. Passenger front liner plastic fastener came out for the most forward point. I let someone borrow my truck to run into town at a Jeep meet over Labor Day and they mentioned a rubbing sound on long left turns at speed. We looked, didn't see anything. It did it again on a freeway drive only I was there to hear it this time. It was that stupid liner folding back and rubbing the tire. I used an oversized christmas tree fastener this time...better not come out again.

Exact same experience - long left turns at speed and particularly one long sweeping left at a freeway interchange where it would do it 100% of the time. Turns out I lost my fastener and it tore the liner a little so I just took a utility knife to it. Yeah the PS pump is exposed a bit now but aluminum liners are in the cards for a black friday buy this year.

 

[sep]

Lost my inner fender on a trip back in April. SUPER windy and I had just passed a semi when the wind caught it and it folded over onto the tire.

 

[Marlinvx]

This was an issue for 2020 models. There is a TSB for them.

Surprised to see another thread about it with, if your info is correct, a 22 model?

Mine is a 2022, just picked it up in August. I found the original fastener, it was on the floor in my garage. Have no idea how it could have fallen out with the vehicle parked, and no work has been done on it in the garage or the fender liner at all for that matter. I had backed over it at some point, so no good way to determine why it came out. Looking at the liner, the hole in the liner was wallowed out a bit, so I suspect it was flapping around and finally the fastener gave out.

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