Roof leak in back

[Hootbro]

Unfortunately, that wasn't the full story. The nightmare continues. Anyone should think twice about having this warranty repair done. Be forewarned and forearmed.

When I went to pick it up i could clearly see that they had tried to cover up the carnage inflicted to the hardtop itself. Both the inside and outside of the hardtop was gouged in several places from the haphazard attempt. Not to mention the upper trim pieces on the interior were broken and installed back with double sided tape in an attempt to make it stay put. Dealer ended up doing what I would consider to be the right thing and offered to replace the hardtop and I accepted. Well, the hardtop came in and they installed it and put back the same broken trim pieces and when I confronted the service manager about it, he said "oh yeah we have ordered new ones we didn't know that the new hardtop wouldn't come with them." Oh yeah? well I knew because I looked up the part number for the top beforehand and could see clearly from my searching that it wouldn't and was the first thing I looked for. Said we will let you know when they come in. Never got a call from them saying that the trim pieces arrived, and life got int he way and I never followed up. I'm sure they never ordered and just wanted me to forget.

Here are a few of the more egregious spots. There were lesser ones all around the perimeter.

Hard to see in the pics but it looked like a black sharpie was used to mask the damage and cover up the white fiberglass showing .

Interior hardtop and trim behind the seat damaged.

Somehow the roof got involved as well....

Which brings me to today.

New hardtop has started to leak again. Can't say that I am suprised..... So, I take it back into the same dealer since they are the only one less than an hour away from me and this time, they decline to repair stating that they don't have a glass shop and wouldn't want the same thing to happen again with a third-party involved. They said casually just try another dealer that has an in-house glass repair shop. No help setting up an appointment or directing me to another dealer that could help. Basically <insert expletive here> go "pound sand" we are done with you and we don't care to even try to help you with this issue or help find another dealer for that matter.

@JeepCares
Care to get involved here? Note, that the pics I posed are from the previous hardtop that the dealer replaced. My issues as they stand today are:

1. A leaking rear window
2. The upper interior trim pieces are broken and rattle at various highway speeds
3. In need of a dealer that can facilitate a proper repair.

I would press for a new replacement hard top with back glass.

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[dayusmc]

Unfortunately even if they replace the glass it seems like it will eventually leak again.

My friend at the glass shop says it is from the glue they use.

I am getting ready to take my back glass out and have a solid window made and be done with it...

 

[GCoop]

I would press for a new replacement hard top with back glass.

Did not really have to the first time, thankfully, as that was the right thing for the dealer to do. Although this time, I am in agreement with you. The only thing to make me whole at this point, knowing what I know now, is to replace the top YET AGAIN and let me fix the problem MYSELF which Stellantis can't seem to.

Unfortunately even if they replace the glass it seems like it will eventually leak again.

My friend at the glass shop says it is from the glue they use.

I am getting ready to take my back glass out and have a solid window made and be done with it...

Oh yeah, agreed, evidence from this forum (which is a small sample, although vocal) would confirm that. Not to mention my hard evidence with a hardtop manufactured 2 years later than my original one failed even earlier. They, Stellantis, don't care to address the root of the problem going on here and we, the customer, are left to come up with a solution of our own. Which, at this point, with all of the different ways I have seem people address is MILES better than what Stellantis has been able to produce.



...oh and by the way 24 hours+ and not a peep from @JeepCares. Are they even still at thing?

 

[Jrmotorsports55]

Put together my 4 year owner video update and can say that 1 year in with the vacuum hose fix I am still leak free and it has held up just fine.

 

[skull_squadron]

I have the three piece hard top and noticed a water leak behind the back seat today. It’s coming in from above the sliding window. I know the freedom panels sometimes leak if not seated properly. But I have heard of anything in the back yet. Anyone having a leak back there?

 

[Rocksalt]

Did not really have to the first time, thankfully, as that was the right thing for the dealer to do. Although this time, I am in agreement with you. The only thing to make me whole at this point, knowing what I know now, is to replace the top YET AGAIN and let me fix the problem MYSELF which Stellantis can't seem to.



Oh yeah, agreed, evidence from this forum (which is a small sample, although vocal) would confirm that. Not to mention my hard evidence with a hardtop manufactured 2 years later than my original one failed even earlier. They, Stellantis, don't care to address the root of the problem going on here and we, the customer, are left to come up with a solution of our own. Which, at this point, with all of the different ways I have seem people address is MILES better than what Stellantis has been able to produce.



...oh and by the way 24 hours+ and not a peep from @JeepCares. Are they even still at thing?

sadly this 64 page thread on this issue going back so many years proves that Stellantis doesnt care

 

[ecidiego]

sadly this 64 page thread on this issue going back so many years proves that Stellantis doesnt care

I am just now checking up on it....not surprised they've DONE NOTHING. Do the hose, screw the dealer.

 

[kabookie10]

Sadly, I'm on my 3rd rear glass. I tried everything. Its the plastic that's adhered or on the top of the glass that keeps getting hair line cracks in it for some reason. Its been on all of my replacement glass panels.

I finally just filled the gap with some black silicone. I know I may have to replace it at some point but at this point I'm over getting glass replaced every year because it cracks and leaks. If it ends up giving me trouble again I may contact my insurance or just go to a glass place and see if a professional can do something with it.

This issue is about the same deal as the bronco had with their hard top. Ford replaced them all. Jeep.......screw our loyal customers.

Also my opinion @JeepCares , should rename themselves to @JeepDOESN'TCare. The only phrases they know are, sorry to hear your having a problem and we understand your frustration.

 

[Thinback]

Question for the ones having this problem, did the window start leaking after the top was removed from the truck?
I wonder if the normal motion of removing the top is causing the leaks? Maybe the sealant/glue is not flexible enough?
I haven’t removed my top at this point just the freedom panels. Kind of a little worried to do it at this point.

 

[JRobes]

It's the plastic water gutter/trough directly adhered to the inside surface of the top of the window that stress cracks and leaks. My guess is that the rear window expands/contracts at a faster rate than the plastic trough (especially when using the rear defroster), and it over time causes all sorts of small cracks along the entire width of the plastic trough.

As others have found, the "fix" is to keep the water from ever making its way into the trough/gutter, typically by blocking the exterior gap between the window and hardtop along the top of the window.

 

[kabookie10]

Question for the ones having this problem, did the window start leaking after the top was removed from the truck?
I wonder if the normal motion of removing the top is causing the leaks? Maybe the sealant/glue is not flexible enough?
I haven’t removed my top at this point just the freedom panels. Kind of a little worried to do it at this point.

No. I have only had my rear top off once since buying mine new in 2020. I got the bestop sun rider for the freedom panels so I don’t take the rear portion off. Mine has had 2 glass replacements since taking it off. I think it’s something to do with the possible slight curvature of the glass and the cheap thin plastic surround that’s on the window. It seems like it’s fine in the winter but once you get some warmer weather and in the summer with rain people are noticing the leaking. I don’t know what’s causing it but it’s the plastic surround that’s cracking. I do notice some metal clips on the window too and wonder if those are a possible culprit of the cracks. They put to much stress on the plastic.

 

[Trollboogie]

I have never taken the top off, just the freedom panels. I have a Sunrider on it now. It was leaking before I got that. The vacuum house is still working for me. Like Jrobes said, it keeps the water from ever getting to the crack. The window always seems to leak in the area of the sliding glass. There are some tabs in the window frame for the slider. I would bet that if you were to replace the back window with a solid glass, it would solve the problem.

 

[Thinback]

Ok, do you think doing the vacuum hose would be a good preventative step? Or just wait for the leak?

 

[Jrmotorsports55]

Ok, do you think doing the vacuum hose would be a good preventative step? Or just wait for the leak?

Cheap enough to do, just do it. Why wait for the mildew smell in your interior? Just my opinion.

 

[JRobes]

I agree, it's a cheap preventative move that might save some electronics or gear you might have behind or under the seats. If mine gets worse, I'll probably have a window installer just fully fill the gap above with window with window urethane and be done with it.

I still can't believe the design hasn't been changed yet.

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