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Rear differential damaged. Dealer blames 2" lift.

5K views 32 replies 18 participants last post by  BeyondYourFrontDoor 
#1 ·
I have a 2016 2door Sport that I bought last Wednesday from the dealer. Jeep had 3000 miles on. It has I believe rear ARB air locker, not sure what gearing, 33,5" tires and what looked like a 2" springs spacer kit with OEM springs.
I put about 500 miles after I bought it and two days ago, while on the freeway going 60-65mph in the rain, rear started to make noises. I pulled over and as soon as I did differential started to make gringing noise and car wasn't moving. Pinion seal popped out and fluid was gone. Took it to the dealer and they said that lift is to blame. "Pinion popping in and out because of the lift".

Does this make any sense?
 
#2 ·
I dont see how the lift would cause a properly installed pinion to move.

However....

An improperly installed lift and/or gearing could be a direct cause of the failure.

Considering the mods are a direct cause of the failure, the dealer will not warranty it.
 
#4 ·
Considering the mods are a direct cause of the failure, the dealer will not warranty it.
More like they most likely will not warranty it. There are some extremely mod friendly dealerships out there.
 
#3 ·
Not sure how they came to that conclusion, my eleven year old daughter knows more then that.

Only way possible is if the pinion angle was way the truck off and it ate up the bearing. I have a feeling the drive shaft would let you know there was an issue before that happened.


Did you buy the jeep from a dealer or private party?
 
#8 ·
The lift did not cause this failure.

However, your next argument is also in trouble if someone added a locker to the rear as that "work" is likely where the problem came from. The warranty should be from whoever did the rear differential work. They obviously didn't put it back together correctly...

Only 3000 miles? You need receipts from the work that was done and track down the proper person to do the warranty work. I doubt there is any chance that the dealer will warranty since they are already looking for any way out possible... So much so that they have already placed the blame in a spot that is completely wrong.
 
#11 ·
If I am reading your Posts correctly, you purchased it from your Dealer, with the MODS already in it. Hopefully, this was a Chrysler/Jeep Dealer that you purchased it from!

Where I agree that this would not be factory warranty, because somebody else has been modding the Diff. What about the warranty that you received from your Dealer that you purchased it from? This is who should be taking care of you as a Customer..IMO
 
#12 ·
If you bought it from a different dealer then you brought it to for repairs that's your first issue. You didn't buy from them so they are not in any rush to help you. Im guessing from your last post you contacted the dealer you bought it from and waiting for the gm to call back. If not call that dealer if they sold you a Jeep a week ago and the rear blew its on them. They can't cry foul and saw its your problem. If the problem was caused by the so called lift they shouldn't have sold such an unsafe vehicle in the first place. You have to be persistent. I like you just purchased a 2016 wrangler was told it had gears the salesman didn't know what ratio but would contact seller. We'll I come to find out he lied. Spoke to the sales manager and he said you know I don't have to do anything. Now where does it say it was geared. However he is going to purchase the gears and split the cost with me. Don't let this go if you have to contact corporate. I'm telling you be persistent. My wife had a nav issue with her 2012 sorrento they couldn't fix it. She took it all the way up to corporate and they gave her a new 2014 sorrento all she had to do is keep making the same payment on original loan. I can't stress enough be PERSISTENT.
 
#13 ·
my 2 cents. I'm sorry you had a problem. If you bought the Wrangler from a Jeep dealer was the Wrangler "Sold As Is" . Many years ago I purchased a used car from my local Pontiac dealer, With in a few hours I had issues where the car would cut off. I went back to the dealer, they refused to do anything. My son and I stood on public property with a sign stating our problem. Many customers came over and talked to us they left the dealer's lot without buying a car. Within the hour the GM came out and we talked. The GM put in writing that he would repair the car at no charge and gave us a loaner car. There is no reason why you should have to pay any amount for the repair. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
#14 ·
It is a 2016 with 3000 miles even if it isnt a jeep dealer cant see them saying it is being sold as is. That is usually older vehicles out of warranty. Some dealers will give a 90 day warranty and so many miles etc. The problem is the dealer sold a vehicle with a lift and jeep is saying the lift caused the failure. Someone is to blame for this either the seller who didn't properly inspect the vehicle before selling or the manufacturer for a bad rear end. it's like saying if he drove it off the lot and the wheel feel off then telling him sorry it's because of the wheels and big tires. l That is unacceptable if it was a year later I would say your beat but a damn week no way jose. The only issue I see is if the seller opens up the diff and discovers any mods to the rearend caused the failure you may have a fight on your hands. I would still stand behind "you sold me this vehicle a week ago 3000 miles and it broke".
 
#16 ·
The only issue with that is the ARB locker that was installed in the rear differential. More than likely the install was screwed up causing the issue. The installer should be on the hook for that one. I agree the selling dealer should step up to the plate no matter what.

We had problems with a used car we purchased from a large dealership that was missed by their inspection. They made is right. I mentioned earlier that we had issues with my son's car that the dealer made right. Hopefully this will be the case here.
 
#15 ·
You should have at least 30 days warranty from your used car dealer. If you didn't, the fix will be on you, thought for the sound of this issue, it seems the dealer already told you to pound salt and that you'll be covering the repairs, which makes me wonder if they put that big paper in the front windows that says Sold as is. if they did and you still went for it, the fix will be on your dime..
 
#18 ·
Totally the responsibility of the dealer if things are as reported. Sure, the dealer might want to go after the ARB installation shop, but that's not Rrr70's problem; he bought a 1-model-year-old 3000-mile Jeep from a dealer. Maybe he knew it had an ARB, maybe he didn't, who's to say. At any rate, if it came that way from the people who sold it to you, it's their responsibility to either fix it or buy it back. Other than a "Buy Here Pay Here, Nobody Walks" shady used car lot I can't imagine anyone trying to lay this off on the buyer. Only exception would be if there is paperwork stating something to the effect that you are buying a modified vehicle that has voided the Chrysler powertrain warranty and the dealership offers no additional warranty. Then it's on Rrrr70.
 
#22 ·
Really?

Because in your first post you said, and I quote:

It has I believe rear ARB air locker, not sure what gearing, 33,5" tires and what looked like a 2" springs spacer kit with OEM springs.
Considering Jeeps do not come from the factory with an ARB locker or 2" spring spacer kit, that right there tells it has been modified.
 
#20 ·
Bring it back to the dealer who sold it to you. 3000mi Jeep and you only had it 1 week. Hands down their problem. If they don't want to warranty modifications on a vehicle then they shouldn't sell a vehicle that has been modified. I bet local laws mandate a warranty on this.
 
#21 ·
Was this an as is purchase or did it have a warranty?
 
#25 ·
Update.

Dealer that I bought it from (in Sacramento) picked up the Jeep from Concord and towed it to the driveline shop in Sacramento. After the shop opened the rear and front diffs, I found aunt some interesting details. Rear axle is a Dana 44. Front and rear was regeared to 4.88. Rear internals were destroyed. I just got home after driving Lyft to Sacramento to pick the Jeep up. So now I have a set of Yucon gears plus Yucon air locked in the rear.
I stopped twice on my way home to let the car cool down, as per shop requirements for the brake-in procedure. Will change differential oil after 500 miles.
 
#30 ·
Weird... why would someone take a brand new Sport, swap a 44 into the back, redo the gears, put a locker in - then get rid of it? Unless they f*cked it up badly and wanted to unload their disaster.

Moded Jeeps are Russian Roulette...
My 2016 Sport S has a Dana 44 rear in it straight from the factory. I think they are standard now in new Jeeps as every one I've looked at has it. Anybody know for sure?
 
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