2001 Jeep Wrangler structure problems

“MY JEEP WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS WHEN I SHIFTED GEARS. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A QUICK GRIND (METAL AGAINST METAL). THEN IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THIS LAST WEEK WENT BY. IT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.LUCKILY I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MUCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY- MY TRANSMISSION(?) WAS TILTED AND SITTING ON SOMETHING AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE (THE LUCK WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN). THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FROM PRESTIGE HI-TECH IS "CHECK FOR NOISE/ GRINDING IN DRIVETRAIN. FRAME BADLY RUSTED OUT, CROSS MEMBER UNDER TRANSFER CASE, BOLTS PULLED OUT OF RUSTED FRAME." I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VISUALLY IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITHOUT RUST ON THE BODY. PRESTIGE SAID BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE RUSTED THROUGH BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. THERE WERE NO HOLES FOR TRAPPED WATER TO ESCAPE THROUGH.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.”

“MY JEEP FRAME RUSTED OUT, FORCING US TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE IN 2015. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, FEMALE, NEVER WENT OFF-ROAD WITH IT AND IT WAS GARAGE KEPT. LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. UPSET THAT I CANNOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE FRAME AND CANNOT FIND FRAME TO REPLACE IT. I STILL OWN IT AND STILL WAITING TO FIND A FRAME FOR IT. NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME! SEE PHOTO AS PROOF.”

“FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED ONLY 90K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE HOLDING IT UP WAS BOLTED TO THE FRAME AND BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IT CANT BE FIXED. ITS SO BAD A NO BODY SHOP WILL FIX IT, RUST KIT IS NO HELP WITH HOW BAD THIS FRAME IS RUSTED. THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULES THAT A FRAME IS THIS BADLY RUSTED AT 90K MILES.”

“THIS 2001 JEEP WRANGLER TJ FAILED NY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME RUST. PURCHASED NEW ON 06/01/2001 FROM A JEEP DEALERSHIP IN LINDENHURST, NY AND ONLY HAS 116,097 MILES ON A 4.0 ENGINE. THIS TUBULAR FRAME RUST IS PREMATURE DUE TO LACK OF "WEEP HOLES" THAT ALLOWS WATER TO EXIT THE FRAME, THEREBY PROMOTING RUST FROM THE INSIDE, OUT AND IS COSTLY TO REPAIR (SEE ATTACHMENT). NOTE... TOYOTA HAS HAD SIMILAR "RUSTY FRAME" ISSUES, BUT TOYOTA HAS DONE THE "RIGHT THING". SEE WRITE-UP AND VIDEO HERE: HTTP://AUTOWEEK.COM/ARTICLE/RECALLS/TOYOTA-FRAME-SETTLEMENT-COULD-COST-COMPANY-34-BILLION ... I LOVE MY WRANGLER, BUT IF JEEP REFUSES TO HELP WITH THIS (WIDE SPREAD) RUSTY FRAME ISSUE, I MAY VERY WELL MAKE A TOYOTA MY NEXT PURCHASE! THIS IS NOT JUST A CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE!!!”

“COMPLETE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS MOUNT LOCATIONS. TWO LARGE HOLES APPROXIMATELY 1" IN DIAMETER. STRESS CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO CORRODED METAL AND CYCLICAL FATIGUE HAS CAUSED CRACK PROPAGATION AND CONNECTION OF THE TWO HOLES WITH ONE ANOTHER.”