Jeep JL Wrangler hit with weld fault

JEEP in the USA has issued a Stop Sales Order and recall on certain 2018-2019 JL Wranglers, following the failure of the weld that secures the track-bar mount to the chassis.

The attached video was posted to YouTube by a Jeep owner and it clearly shows the weld has completely broken away from the chassis, allowing it to move when the steering is turned. The resulting movement would make the vehicle unsafe to drive on any road. FCA claims it isn’t aware of any accidents related to the welding fault.

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The voluntary recall covers around 18,000 vehicles in the USA and asks owners to bring their JL Wrangler to the dealers for inspection – or owners can check to see if their vehicle is affected by visiting Mopar.com and keying in their VIN.

Only around four per cent of the 18,000 recalled vehicles are said to be affected. Many of the vehicles remain unsold on dealer lots in the USA, hence the Stop Sale Order until they have been inspected prior to sale.

The 2018 JL Jeep Wrangler is not on sale in Australia yet, so no Australian-delivered vehicles are affected by the recall. The JL is expected to be available in Australia from March 2019.

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Enthusiast site JL Wrangler Forums shows numerous cases from JL owners where the track-bar bracket has come away from the chassis; and some owners have resorted to reinforcing the bracket with aftermarket solutions. Other owners have had the weld inspected, while some have been re-welded independently.