My 07 unlimited is in the shop right now and they just called to tell me they can't do the TSB for my leaking hardtop because the driver side freedom panel is cracked... The leak is on the passenger side. Also the top has never been dropped or even set down rough. Shouldn't a cracked top be covered under warrenty?

 

Depends how it was cracked, but ultimately it should be their legal burden to prove that it was the customer's fault that the system failed.

So even if they can prove that your abuse or misuse caused the driver's side panel to crack, they STILL have to them prove that the fact that your driver side panel is cracked is the direct reason your passenger side panel is leaking.

Sounds to me like they're lying to you to get out of a warranty repair. I'd go in there, explain your rights, ask them to directly show how you caused one or both of the problems. It's a TSB for Christ sake, meaning they've already agknowledged the problem. Even if they don't repair the driver panel, make them fix the TSB leak on the passenger side.

 

You can find in your owners manual supplement on warranty the number for the CAG, or Customer Advocate Group. They can handle dealer warranty complaints like this.

I work in warranty for a tier 1 supplier. I have heard that some people in dealerships will try anything to get out of a warranty claim.

 

Why would that be? I figure it would be a cash cow for them.

 

Kind of a crappy thing to say, BUT, maybe when the service guy was removing the tops for the TSB (both sides get done for that by the way...had it done on my 08), he cracked your top and is trying to put blame on you so he won't get in trouble . Seen worse things happen at a dealer.

 

Warranty work is paid by the hour and job type. I'm not 100% sure how tops work, is it body shop or the regular shop - no idea. I have talked to a few people back in my TJ forums days who also had a hard time with hard top warranty. For some reason dealer seem to like scamming out of warranty work on hard tops, or so it seems.

 

Because warranty mark up is a fraction of retail mark up. They literally make 2 to 3 times the profit on retail repairs than they make on warranty repairs.