2000 Jeep Wrangler

THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, NEARLY SEVERING THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND FRAME, FROM THE REST OF THE FRAME. IN ADDITION THE FRAME IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO SOFT TO THE POINT THAT I COULD COMPRESS THE FRAME WITH MY BARE HAND. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AFTER INVESTIGATING WHY THE JEEP WAS SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP STRAIGHT WITHIN THE TRAVELING LANE OF WASHINGTON STREET. THANKFULLY, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK. I WAS QUOTED $2,200 TO FIX BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THROUGH A METAL FRABRICATOR, BUT HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENTIRE FRAME, AS THERE WAS FURTHER ROT CLEAR UP TO THE SPRING BUCKETS. ULTIMATELY I'LL BE FORCED TO TAKE A $4,600 LOAN TO REPLACE THE FRAME. JEEP TJ'S ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FRAME RUST ISSUES, BUT THE FACT THAT THE RUST WAS UNSEEN JUST WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, COMBINED WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING STABILITY, IS WORTH TAKING NOTE OF CONCERN. TWO YEARS AGO THIS JEEP HAD NO VISIBLE RUST ANYWHERE ON THE BODY OR FRAME. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, AND AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED.

2000 JEEP WRANGLER TJ WITH VISIBLE FRAME RUST IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS. LACK OF DRAINAGE HOLES ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THROUGH FACTORY DRILLED FRAME HOLES LOCATED IN FRONT AND REAR WHEEL WELLS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE LOWER PARTS OF THE FRAME. BY THE TIME RUST IS VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME, THE INSIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPROMISED TO A GREATER DEGREE AS THE RUST PROGRESSES FROM THE INSIDE OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THERE ARE READILY AVAILABLE KITS TO REPAIR THESE JEEP FRAMES FROM SEVERAL PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH ILLUSTRATES THE SEVERITY AND PREVALENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND INEXPENSIVE, THE COST OF INSTALLATION AS WITH MOST MAJOR VEHICLE REPAIR, IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES WELDING WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND SKILLS. A REPAIR COMPLETED BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. THIS VEHICLE HAS 175000 MILES DRIVEN ENTIRELY (EXCEPT ONE TRIP TO ATLANTA) IN TENNESSEE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ALMOST ENTIRELY ON PAVED PUBLIC ROADS. *TR

THE FRAME OF MY JEEP WRANGLER TJ MODEL HAS ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 15 YEARS OLD. I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK ON CITY STREETS WHEN MY SKID PLATE THAT HOLDS MY TRANSFER CASE COMPLETELY PULLED OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAVING A LOT OF STRESS ON MY TRANSFER CASE. AFTER I GOT IT HOME, I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF PERSONAL INJURY OR FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE JEEP. LUCKILY FOR ME I DIDN'T. AFTER SITTING FOR I NOTICED I HAD A SEVERE LEAN TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AREA WHERE THE CONTOL ARMS ARE ATTATCHED TO THE FRAME ALSO PULLED OFF. THAT PART OF THE FRAME ONLY HAD 1/2 INCH OF MATERIAL LEFT ON THE TOP EDGE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT THIS TIME, I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. WHEN I BOUGHT A NEW FRAME AND HAD IT REPLACED I INSPECTED MY OLD ONE. THERE WERE HOLES AND VERY THIN AREAS FROM THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS TO THE REAR BUMPER. IT LOOKED LIKE WATER AND DEBRIS COULD GET IN THE SIDE OF THE FRAME BUT HAD NOWHERE TO GO ONCE IT WAS INSIDE. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT LEAVING ME WITH NO WARNING OF ANY DAMAGE UNTIL IT STARTED TO FALL APART.

I FEEL COMPELLED TO CONTRIBUTE, THIS 2000 IS MY 3RD WRANGLER AND I MUST SAY MOST OF THESE COMPLAINTS SOUND LIKE TRUMPED UP BUNK. ESPECIALLY ABOUT SHIFTING FROM 1ST INTO 2ND AND A GRINDING CLUTCH ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION?? THE ONLY PROBLEM I'LL GRANT IS THE WATER IN THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD AND THAT HAPPENED ON MY '91 AS WELL. SO WHAT, IT'S A JEEP FER PETE'S SAKE. AND IF YOU'VE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE GEARSHIFT POPS OUT IN 1ST... STOP PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PROBLEM SOLVED. MY GUT FEELING IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY DRIVE A STCIK SHIFT AND THEY'RE DRIVING A JEEP LIKE A SPORTS CAR. I HATE TO RAG ON OTHER JEEP DRIVERS BUT I'VE SEEN THEM DO IT. STOP WHINING PLEASE.