[Dr.G]

From examining two Jeep Renegades. Both revealed quality problems with the chassis plugs, seam sealer, and corrosion control/sound mitigation coating.

Really disappointing that these units are passing quality control over in Italy.

For those who buy one, should consider additional corrosion protection and pre-delivery inspection!!!

On both cars, plugs were added after the fact, and some seam sealer primer was sloppily brushed around to "hold them in". Cracks in the primer indicate the plug moved, and moisture will accumulate in there and facilitate corrosion.




On one car, a plug had been cut out of the corrosion protection and a new plug of different dimensions was added with no seam sealer.



On the other car, the plug was missing completely, the paint was damaged, and the corrosion protection did not continue to that area as it should.

 

[Reg]

Thanks for pointing this out. There are obvious inconsistencies and potentially serious issues in areas typically overlooked.

 

[Foobar]

From what I understand, the underbody plugs on most cars these days (all that ship?) are only installed at PDI after the vehicle has been transported. Apparently they use those openings to affix the vehicles in place while they are on the cargo ship.

The plugs and anything else the dealer needs to do final install on are usually in the glove compartment and then installed during the Pre-Delivery Inspection.

Not sure if the plugs you've shown above are part of those, or if they are completely different, but in my experience, the plugs installed at PDI aren't sealed with a rust inhibitor, so maybe those are from the factory.

Can someone else take a look under their car to see if they have the same results? Also if we can get feedback from both seaboard as well as inland deliveries, that'd be helpful.

 

[scooterCT]

I think there was a basic logic error in the original question.

"quality control over in Italy"

This is an inherently inconsistent phrase.

 

[Karamich]

Wow...I hope the Renegade won't be doomed with rust issues like the (my) Patriot...

Yes Quality control can help improve Jeep's reputation

 

[scooterCT]

My problem with optimism that "the Renegade will be different", is that it just doesn't work that way.

I'm an engineer. Quality is hard, very hard. And expensive. It takes massive dedication and resources over a long period time. There has to be support from the CEO down to the factory floor. You have to throw time and money at quality. And you have to build an atmosphere of quality. People have to believe in it. They have to care about it.

I have no clue whether the Renegade will be high quality or not. I just know the general rule that quality doesn't magically appear. So I look at the historically horrific Jeep/Fiat quality measures and I'm leery. I don't believe in the tooth fairy.

Unfortunately, none of us will know the answer for a few years. It either delivers or it doesn't. Here's hoping the Renegade marks a dramatic quality turnaround. If we love the Renegade, I guess we just have to put our money down and hope for the best.

 

[tony]

Thanks a lot for posting this, it's just another reason why I recommend people inspect their vehicles before finally taking delivery of them, rather not be in for surprises the days and weeks following delivery.

 

[Karamich]

For this reason some car makes put their R&D and production budget for a new model or revamped model on engineering and quality control more than the look and feel / design etc...

Jeep is going with superb trendy and fresh design and material choices for the interior, yet they might be cutting somewhere else unfortunately...

 

[tony]

For this reason some car makes put their R&D and production budget for a new model or revamped model on engineering and quality control more than the look and feel / design etc...

Jeep is going with superb trendy and fresh design and material choices for the interior, yet they might be cutting somewhere else unfortunately...

Good point, the fact they're entering the market with a unique product here is probably helping them, even with threads like this outlining issues there are still many more reasons to get a Renegade that so far overpower concerns.

 

[raypla]

That's reason enough for a quality application of undercoating post purchase from a place like Ziebart. Especially round here in the NE, NYSDOT loves there salt!!!!

 

[ManEater666]

Nope that´s Bullshit that knobs are the Parts your Dealer should have fixed after unpacking and making the Car sellable he knows or should have known it that he has to do something after shipping ... just examined my Car and there is not such Bullshit as shown in the Pics ... I guess this is the Jeep part of the Renegade ... over here in Germany no car with knobs or faults like this would be selled ... first thing a German Jeep dealer is doing over here with a Wrangler is a rust prevention american Manufactorers don´t even heared of ...

 

[Reg]

... I guess this is the Jeep part of the Renegade ... over here in Germany no car with knobs or faults like this would be selled ... first thing a German Jeep dealer is doing over here with a Wrangler is a rust prevention american Manufactorers don´t even heared of ...

Great to hear, I wish our dealers over here would likewise fix the BMW and Mercedes before they were selled also. Shipping must really reveal flaws.

 

[Mikelibramania]

Corrosion protection

The applied sealing layer which can be seen from the underside images, is more suited to stone chip protection than the rust protection
The small crack at the later painted stopper I think rather harmless, the seal-free zone around the 2 plugs is a much much more relevant, a potential rust stove should it remain so.
Corrosive processes in today's automobile industry and the thorough cleaning of the body and prevents it several times filmy following as applied to sheet Antikorrosion-, color, and gloss protective layers.
However, these sensitive layers can be easily damaged by flying stone chip.
Why a careful sealing of the underbody, especially in view of the fact that the Renegade is provided for off-road use, should be a top priority for FCA.

 

[SHREK]

I've just checked under mine and it's exactly the same as in the pictures and I'm in the UK. My Renegade's in the dealer on Thursday for the brakes to be checked out and I will bringing this to their attention and see what they have to say?
I will add I've had a FIAT 500, Abarth, Alfa Guilletta and now the Renegade and all of them were lacking in the under body protection seems that's were Fiat save some Euros

 

[bunburry]

everysingle car willbe doomed to rust issues if you drive in a slaty climate without rust protection....

 

[fmunk]

From examining two Jeep Renegades. Both revealed quality problems with the chassis plugs, seam sealer, and corrosion control/sound mitigation coating.

Really disappointing that these units are passing quality control over in Italy.

For those who buy one, should consider additional corrosion protection and pre-delivery inspection!!!

On both cars, plugs were added after the fact, and some seam sealer primer was sloppily brushed around to "hold them in". Cracks in the primer indicate the plug moved, and moisture will accumulate in there and facilitate corrosion.




On one car, a plug had been cut out of the corrosion protection and a new plug of different dimensions was added with no seam sealer.



On the other car, the plug was missing completely, the paint was damaged, and the corrosion protection did not continue to that area as it should.

Someone should send this to FCA corporate so that they are aware. Little inexpensive details like this could end up costing them way more in reputation and sales further down the road.

 

[The_Warlin]

This is frustrating because Jeeps, by nature of being a Jeep, need good underbody protection.

Someone should send this to FCA corporate so that they are aware. Little inexpensive details like this could end up costing them way more in reputation and sales further down the road.

lol trust me FCA knows and they know we know. At the very least the first year or two batch of Renegades will be like this then FCA will "fix" the problem. maybe.

 

[Indiana Jones]

Someone should send this to FCA corporate so that they are aware. Little inexpensive details like this could end up costing them way more in reputation and sales further down the road.

All I can say is "Abarth side molding." A problem so common yet nothing gets done about it.

 

[fmunk]

This is frustrating because Jeeps, by nature of being a Jeep, need good underbody protection.

lol trust me FCA knows and they know we know. At the very least the first year or two batch of Renegades will be like this then FCA will "fix" the problem. maybe.

I never implied anything would be done immediately by Jeep. You can't deny it is a good thing to apply pressure and let them know potential buyers are aware of quality issues.

Bottomline, they are in business to sell cars and make money. Any thing that could impact their ability to sell will get their attention. No better way instigate change than to spread knowledge of this like an out of control brush fire... like posting these to their social media channels for all to see.

Or, you can be dismissive and laugh, then continue to whine endlessly about lack of action.

 

[THURSTON]

Be warned potential Renegade brothers and sisters...

A family friend, who happens to also be a Service Manager for JEEP might get me a deal on my next new purchase. However, he gave me some really bad news yesterday and recommended that I wait for the 2016 Renegade.

The reason is because he has received over 180 warranty claims so far on the 2015 model. Considering it has only "landed" here less than 6 weeks ago, I'd say it sounds like good advice to wait a bit longer. My order would include a Lat 4x4 with the tow pkg anyway.

Thankfully my Canadian built 2002 Mercury tank still chugs along well enough and I will hopefully keep it going until I can't stand it no more next year.