Jeep Wrangler Paint Bubbling & Corrosion:
Will a Warranty Cover it?
If you're noticing weird paint bubbles on your Jeep Wrangler, there may be a way to fix it even if your Jeep's corrosion warranty has expired. It's a common issue for Jeep Wrangler JL models for 2018 through 2021 as well as Jeep Gladiator JLU pickups for 2020 through 2021. You'll commonly see bubbling paint or blistering around the door hinges as well as on the doors, hood and tailgate. At Planet Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Franklin, we've also seen it on some Jeep Grand Cherokee models equipped with aluminum hoods.
Owners sometimes believe this might be rust under the paint of the vehicle but it's not. It's galvanic corrosion. That's an electrochemical process where one metal corrodes when it's in electrical contact with another metal in the presence of an electrolyte like salt and water. In the case of certain Jeep vehicles, aluminum and steel are usually involved. If you'd like a more detailed explanation, you can scroll to the bottom to this page.
Help is available if your Wrangler, Gladiator or Grand Cherokee is having this kind of corrosion
Paint blistering or bubbling that's caused by galvanic corrosion is generally covered by the corrosion warranty. That warranty is valid for five years after the in-service date of the vehicle. If you're the first owner, the in-service date should be the same as the date on your purchase or lease paperwork. If you don't know your in-service date, contact any Jeep dealer like us and have your VIN ready. You can e-mail us at collision@planetfranklin.com, include your VIN and request for an in-service date and we can find it for you.
Even if your Jeep vehicle is beyond the five-year warranty coverage, you can still ask for help. You can contact your dealer or our dealership if you're local to us and we can request goodwill coverage. It's never guaranteed, but in our experience, Jeep representatives do their best to be helpful. If you're in a nearby community like Worcester, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll have a better case if you're just outside the warranty and you are the original owner; but it never hurts to try.
The Jeep warranty repair procedure
We tell customers that the first step is to contact your dealer, explain the situation and schedule an appointment for an inspection. The dealer will fully evaluate your vehicle and order parts if necessary. Right now, hinge availability is excellent but body panels, especially doors, are on back order. Once the parts arrive, the dealer should schedule you for repairs. When the vehicle is at the body shop for repairs, affected panels will be removed. Hinges should be replaced with hinges of the new design that includes a zinc plate to isolate the two metals and prevent a recurrence of this corrosion issue.
If your Jeep's panels are being repaired, the area of corrosion will be ground down to bare metal and then panels will be prepped, primed and repainted. If panels are being completely replaced, the new panels will be prepped and painted. The repair is better than the original paint process. When new, the unpainted parts were assembled and the entire body was painted as a complete unit. When we make these repairs, we paint each part separately so when the vehicle is reassembled, we're attaching painted part to painted part. That's something Jeep owners really appreciate.
This image shows the new replacement hinges that will be installed. Please notice the zinc plate on the hinges on the right. The zinc will isolate the aluminum from the steel and that will reduce the chances of galvanic corrosion. In these two images, you can see the repair is better than the original process. The image on the left, or above on mobile, shows the door that was painted at the factory. The image on the right, or below on a mobile device, is the door that was painted by Jose, our expert. When we make the repair, we fully paint the door prior to reassembling. This provides additional further isolation from the different kinds of metals coming into contact.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the warranty on my Jeep for paint bubbling, rust and corrosion?
All Jeep models have a five-year/unlimited mileage corrosion warranty. The warranty starts on the in-service date and is valid for Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which are the models where we're seeing corrosion. Mendon and Norwood MA owners can see the actual coverage here: https://www.jeep.com/warranty.html
What causes the paint bubbling, rust or corrosion on a Jeep JL Wrangler?
It will appear like rust but the parts where the bubbling or blistering occurs are made of aluminum and aluminum doesn't rust. The aluminum was originally used to save weight. Where the aluminum contacts steel, bubbling or blistering can occur due to galvanic corrosion. That's true on Gladiator and Grand Cherokee models as well.
Which model years are affected?
Jeep JL Wrangler models starting in 2018 and running through at least part of model year 2021 are affected. Fortunately, JK Wrangler models from 2007 to 2018 are not affected by galvanic corrosion because they had steel doors. If you have a 2018 model year Wrangler, you could have a JK or JL model since they were both built in that same year. In 2022 the new hinge design was introduced, incorporating zinc and creating a barrier between the steel and the aluminum.
How long will repairs take?
If you have your repairs done in the service center at Planet Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, it should take about a week if doors and hinges are involved. Less time may be required if the corrosion is only on the hood. It's been reported that some dealerships will keep vehicles for a month or longer. We encourage you to get specific information at the dealership where your repairs will be made.
Can I find a dealer who will fix paint bubbling on my Wrangler under warranty for free?
That can be tough if you get it done elsewhere. Planet Jeep will repair your vehicle under warranty whether you bought it here or not. If you aren't close enough for us to make the repair, you may need to call several dealers. If you can’t find a dealer who can help, call Jeep Cares at 877-426-5337. They will try to help you.
Will Planet repair a vehicle that was bought at a different dealership?
Yes, absolutely. No Jeep dealer in Massachusetts can beat our level of service. If you didn't buy your last vehicle here, you'll want to buy your next one here. This is our chance to show you the outstanding way the team at Planet serves customers like you.
My warranty is almost expired: What should I do?
Make an appointment with a dealer who's willing to fix your Jeep. They can document the issue for your vehicle before the warranty expiration date. If the warranty expires while you're waiting for parts, a good dealer should seek help from Jeep/Stellantis.
What should I do if I'm beyond the five-year period and my Jeep corrosion warranty has expired?
Start by talking with your dealer. Sometimes Jeep will repair vehicles or offer partial help as a goodwill gesture. Ask your dealer to make a case for you. In general, being a first owner and having a dealership service history will be factors in your favor but it's always free to ask, so just ask.
Is the new repair as good as the factory?
It might be better. Because the mated surfaces will both be painted prior to assembly and the new hinge design includes a zinc shim, door quality should be better than the way your Jeep as built at the factory. You can read more about that if you scroll up on this page.
Will current-model-year Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators still have this problem?
The people at Jeep are very serious about durability. The company has made production changes including the use of zinc, to minimize these problems in the future.
What are the common rust or corrosion areas on a Jeep Wrangler?
We typically see it on door hinges and doors, hoods and tailgates.
Can I get a loaner vehicle when my Wrangler paint bubbling is repaired?
Yes, as long as your vehicle is still within the warranty period.
Are Jeep models known for corrosion problems?
Not generally, although in some model years we've seen galvanic corrosion when aluminum parts are mixed with steel parts.
Are there circumstances when Jeep won't cover my repair for paint bubbling or corrosion?
Yes, there are situations when repairs might not be covered. If the corrosion is around paint chips on the hood, for example, it will not be covered. See us or another Jeep dealer for a vehicle inspection to determine what can or can't be covered.
Is there a class-action lawsuit for Wrangler paint or corrosion issues?
Yes, it appears a lawsuit has been filed although we haven't been able to find that it's been certified as a class action. Most of the information about it comes from lemon-law attorneys who want to generate business for some kind of lemon-law buyback. In our view, neither a lawsuit or a lemon-law claims makes sense if you can just get it fixed.
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Planet Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
400 E Central St
Franklin, MA 02038-1305
- Sales: (844) 761-4001
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