Flimsy Front Inner Fenders

[TheITGuy]

I've a 2dr 2018 JLR. Picked it up in Idaho and drove back to Colorado. Been to Moab and other parts of Colorado and not felt the floor get hot. On the JL forum there's no similar threads about heat coming through the floor.

I have a JL also but they supposedly have rerouted the exhaust for the JT so I do not think it is a apples to apples comparison.

I guess I am just trying to figure out the scope of Red's complaint or if he has additional medical issues over amplifying an non issue for the other 99% if buyers?

I guess we'll find out when we get our JT. Surprising that they'd reroute the exhaust since the front half of the JT is identical to the JL.

The front half of the body is identical to the JL, but the JT's suspension is different which IIRC necessitated the change to the way the exhaust is routed. There's a video review (can't find it atm) that shows the heat in the driver's foot-well with an inferred camera. Seems like the engineers didn't add enough heat shielding around the exhaust pipe to keep the foot-well from overheating.

Edit: Here's the video:
The thermal imaging starts at 21:55.

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[RedTRex]

The front half of the body is identical to the JL, but the JT's suspension is different which IIRC necessitated the change to the way the exhaust is routed. There's a video review (can't find it atm) that shows the heat in the driver's foot-well with an inferred camera. Seems like the engineers didn't add enough heat shielding around the exhaust pipe to keep the foot-well from overheating.

Edit: Here's the video:
The thermal imaging starts at 21:55.

Only the rear suspension is different. The front is just different springs

 

[Jake]

The thermal imaging starts at 21:55.

Well this is very interesting. Looks like it’s not Red’s active imagination. Really surprised others have not posted about this. And hopefully Jeep will come up with a good and fast fix for Red and any others that have this problem.

 

[5JeepsAz]

Notice how 'the original' below demonstrates the proper method of offering for inspection of the inner wheel well surface.

Because of the unique angle of exposure, we see below that the part fails because of it's name ....

Wait for the oldest joke in the world ... anyone else question the word plastic

 

[Jace]

Want to let everyone know that my dealer and Alex at Jeep cares has been on top of this issue and it will be corrected.

 

[Gtlamans]

Want to let everyone know that my dealer and Alex at Jeep cares has been on top of this issue and it will be corrected.

Nice

 

[David Mayger]

Hi David Mayger,
We are sorry to see that you have also experienced this concern. As mentioned to your fellow forum members, please send our team a private message and we would be happy to offer an additional layer of assistance!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Sent info & reply to your message. Thanks Alex!
Hardly a travesty & if this is the worst issue on a first year model, I'll take it! So far everything else has been perfect. Love my Gladiator!

 

[David Mayger]

I have M/T tires

MT tires here as well

 

[David Mayger]

Love how @JeepCares always want to take it to private message. Bring it out in the open.

I would put some of this blame on the EPA regulations for MPG. No engineer want to take every tolerance to the extreme to save weight for MPG.

Abolish the EPA.

Because they ask for personal info like the VIN number. It also creates a personal conversation so they can give you personalized service to fix the issue. How is this a bad thing? ‍‍

 

[Pergrem]

I got a chance to check out the liners today at a dealer. Holy shit what were they thinking. Very thin and flimsy with minimal anchor. I can see how people are having issues with them.

 

[Gladicon]

Thousand miles on mine, took it on the expressway for the first time, passenger side got sucked into the tire an tore up yesterday...... Poor design!

 

[RSK]

Same cheap flimsy thin material on the new 2019 Ram 1500 fender wells also.

 

[5JeepsAz]

How does this not happen during testing? Wondering if it only happens to a defined percentage therefore repair under warranty is cheapest option... ?

 

[Hootbro]

How does this not happen during testing? Wondering if it only happens to a defined percentage therefore repair under warranty is cheapest option... ?

I am an engineer, in a perfect world it should not happen. Test articles are not always running what the end production item will be. I can only speculate that either the vendor did a product substitution for the plastic used which I doubt, or FCA pushed to the vendor a variance material product substitution based on reducing cost and or design change. Last minute engineering changes also can waiver retesting if the risk is deem low and not a safety concern.

I can guarantee with a high degree of certainty that FCA engineering will fix this as a in sequence change once they determine root cause and treat anything already out there on a warranty attrition basis.

 

[5JeepsAz]

I am an engineer, in a perfect world it should not happen. Test articles are not always running what the end production item will be. I can only speculate that either the vendor did a product substitution for the plastic used which I doubt, or FCA pushed to the vendor a variance material product substitution based on reducing cost and or design change. Last minute engineering changes also can waiver retesting if the risk is deem low and not a safety concern.

I can guarantee with a high degree of certainty that FCA engineering will fix this as a in sequence change once they determine root cause and treat anything already out there on a warranty attrition basis.

Awesome explanation.thank you! Could it be a new material? If it is a carry over from JLU, should have known parameters, right? Unless the engine heat is so extreme it seeps out of the wheel wells...

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