I've got a weird thing happening. My dash is fading in about a shoe box size chunk right around the SRS symbol on the passenger dash. Then it stops in a circle around the SRS symbol which is still the original color.

It is still fairly faint but definitely there. The pics aren't great but you get the idea.

I started to notice it about a week ago and it has gotten a little worse since then. You had to have the exact angle and lighting to see it then and it didn't show up on pics at all.

Anyway guess I will be calling the dealer on Monday to have them replace the dash because this is unexcusible.

Everyone keep your eye out. There was a defect/recall on my last car for this exact thing. siiiiggghhhhhhh

Cheers,
Jim

(And I have only cleaned the dash with the suggested Mopar Total Clean)

655

656

That sucks. Almost looks to me like the Mopar dressing is soaking into the plastic in some areas and not others... or evaporating in that area faster. Weird.

I've got a weird thing happening. My dash is fading in about a shoe box size chunk right around the SRS symbol on the passenger dash. Then it stops in a circle around the SRS symbol which is still the original color.

It is still fairly faint but definitely there. The pics aren't great but you get the idea.

I started to notice it about a week ago and it has gotten a little worse since then. You had to have the exact angle and lighting to see it then and it didn't show up on pics at all.

Anyway guess I will be calling the dealer on Monday to have them replace the dash because this is unexcusible.

Everyone keep your eye out. There was a defect/recall on my last car for this exact thing. siiiiggghhhhhhh

Cheers,
Jim

(And I have only cleaned the dash with the suggested Mopar Total Clean)

655

656

The same thing was happening on my old 1996 Honda Civic Jim - same side - right around the passenger side airbag.

My half educated guess is that it has to do with the airbag and its related chemicals and gases compressing against the plastic.

On my week old Patriot, I do notice a very slight crease/discoloration on the steering wheel where the airbag is housed - to the right of the Jeep logo on the steering wheel.

It may not be a bad idea to have your dealer check it out though for safeties sake as well - to make certain that the airbag is packed properly and also that it isn't leaking its innards.

It may not be a bad idea to have your dealer check it out though for safeties sake as well - to make certain that the airbag is packed properly and also that it isn't leaking its innards.

There is no method for a dealer to "make certain that the airbag is packed properly" If it's mounted in the vehicle, and it passes the diagnostic self tests, it's OK. The unit itself is sealed, no serviceable parts in it at all, user or dealer.

Thanks Scramjet,

Yea it definitely seems to have something to do with the airbag underneath.
I will have the dealer check it out. Regardless of whether they are serviceable parts or not this should not be happening.

Jim



The same thing was happening on my old 1996 Honda Civic Jim - same side - right around the passenger side airbag.

My half educated guess is that it has to do with the airbag and its related chemicals and gases compressing against the plastic.

On my week old Patriot, I do notice a very slight crease/discoloration on the steering wheel where the airbag is housed - to the right of the Jeep logo on the steering wheel.

It may not be a bad idea to have your dealer check it out though for safeties sake as well - to make certain that the airbag is packed properly and also that it isn't leaking its innards.

That sucks. Almost looks to me like the Mopar dressing is soaking into the plastic in some areas and not others... or evaporating in that area faster. Weird.

I think you're on the right track AZCycle...I think it could be the plasticizers (compounds used in the plastic to keep it pliable...usually phthaled esters...the very same stuff that makes your windows cloudy on the inside and gives that new car smell) being unevenly driven out of the plastic from the sun. I'm guessing that airbag cover is probably thinner and/or different plastic compound than the rest of the dash.

Well I finally could drive to take it in today.

The jerk service guy was combative from the start...
'What kind of products did yiou use on the dash' (mopar as stated in manual)
'What kind or air freshener do you use' (none)
'Did you transport or put something hot up there like a casserole dish?'
(yes he ACTUALLY said that!!)

He took 1(!) picture of it even tho I very nicely advised him I had taken numerous pics of the inside and most don't come out and maybe he should snap a couple to be sure he gets the damage. He just said 'I got it' without even reviewing the picture.

Then he said that he needed to have all cosmetic warranty work approved by Chrysler first and that they may just have them 'shine it up a little'.

By this time I was pissed.
I said, 'Cmon man, its a brand new Jeep 1300 miles, it obviously has something f'ed up with cover over the air bag. You can't just shine it up or remove the haze because the dash is FADED to that color.'
It has even now taken on a different texture than the rest of the dash. Very rough feeling.
I told him to go ahead and send in the pics but that they would be replacing that piece either way.

Part 2 is talking about the white dots appearing all over my doors which is in another thread.

have only had mine for 1 month and 3000 miles,
and dash is as good as day one,
havent cleaned it yet,
just wiped the dust off

I never noticed it in my Pat but i would guess that it is the different materials in the dash take the coloring differently. The area where the air bag is is more plyable then the hard plastic around it and may allow it to fade easier. I'm going to check mine now. Good luck.

I think it is a result of the production of the plastic and/or a combination of the varying thicknesses of the dash. I assume that under the circled area there are perforated sections to allow the dash to come apart as the airbag is deployed or to hinge outward, my guess is one of these is the line you are seeing. Don't think they'll be able to do much for it. My dash is black and I haven't noticed this, although I've never payed close enough attention to see it if it was there anyway.

I assume that under the circled area there are perforated sections
That would be incorrect.

my guess is one of these is the line you are seeing.

As would that.


Don't think they'll be able to do much for it. .

Sure there is.
Replace it!
Simple as that.

N.N Jim,

The fade line you see is probably a result of the PAB chute welding. You see underneath the A side of that PAB is a ABS chute with reinforcing doors that are welded to the top of the insturment panel to create the hinge, strength and proper launch angles required for the deployment of the air bag.

My guess is that these parts were vibration welded together and due, again, to the TPO plastic the stress is starting to show as white marks.

I'm truely sorry that you are experiencing all of these issues - Jeep and chrysler should have engineered a better product.


Edited for my horrible spelling

It has gotten so bad you can now feel it.

The surface is also now much more rough where it has faded. It's not just a rectangular line, the entire rectangle itself is faded. Except for a small circle around the SRS emblem, the entire small shoebox size area is discolored and now rough.

Get's a little worse each day.

Thanks for all the concern. I am going to give the guy who helped me the 48 hours he asked for to get a solution. Maybe he was having a bad day, or maybe he is just a hard a$$, but I can look past that if he gets results.

I will keep all posted.

Jim

Do you have an updated picture of it since you last took this one. I'm curious to see what it looks like now. Also so I can keep my eye on mine, which I have been doing lately.

Keep this thread updated.. If you've got anymore questions on interior trim I can try to answer them. I worked as a Insturment Panel engineer at Chrysler in Auburn Hills when this stuff was being developed. I'll explain the best I can remember

It certainly does look like stress lines in the plastic. Question: Dis the service person write down the questions and your responses? What documentation did he take? I think the questions he was asking were reasonable if crudely done. You have an unusual number of assembly defects on your Pat. Forgive me if you answered it before but when does the VIN say was it built?

Question: Did the service person write down the questions and your responses?

No.

What documentation did he take?

One picture of dash. One picture of door. Neither time did he review the picture on the camera to see if the damage was viewable.
He didn't even walk outside with anything to write with or on.

. Forgive me if you answered it before but when does the VIN say was it built?

4/17/07

One of my constant disappointments is the level of "service" that dealers provide today. I did not include it in my critique of the Patriot because it is pervasive. Let's see what they do but personally I have a real issue with how this was handled. How does one track a problem if it is not documented?

I asked the build date to see if there was a reason why Chrysler would rush the production of your car or have any other issues.

I hope that Jeep does the right thing here. We'll see.

Jimmy you should really contact Chrysler yourself about this guy and service department. Chrysler normally prides itself on their service departments and their customer service. If I were you I would send in the pics yourself and don't rely on that guy.


I don't know if you already answered this but Is there another Chrysler Dealership you can go to?

You know how everytime you call a company and a little recording says "this call may be recorded for quality... blah blah"? When you go to the service dept you should pull out a digital recorder and place it on the service counter before you do anything else and then tell them "this service experience will be recorded for quality assurance..." :D I would love to see the look on their face!

You know how everytime you call a company and a little recording says "this call may be recorded for quality... blah blah"? When you go to the service dept you should pull out a digital recorder and place it on the service counter before you do anything else and then tell them "this service experience will be recorded for quality assurance..." :D I would love to see the look on their face!


Now that would be fun :D :D

That would be incorrect.



As would that.




Sure there is.
Replace it!
Simple as that.

Another member shares my beliefs as well:

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?p=26390#post26390

Guess I'm not that crazy. :)

As far as dealing with the service department, I understand your frustration totally and short of being an a-hole with the service manager, I'd go above them and get a directive from the top down (which you may have). The last thing I personally would want to do is make somebody hate me/dread seeing me each time I drop by, that is in turn working on my car. People are dishonest and I'd definitely have trust issues at that point.

If it's fading after only 5 months, there's something up. Have they replace the dash. I would not let them weasel out of it !!

Btw my Patriot was delivered in June, no fading yet. It's garage kept but I park it out in the sun when at work. It's a tan interior too if that makes any difference.

It's all in the welding... maybe there were changes made to the assembly process at the IP manufacturer?

You know how everytime you call a company and a little recording says "this call may be recorded for quality... blah blah"? When you go to the service dept you should pull out a digital recorder and place it on the service counter before you do anything else and then tell them "this service experience will be recorded for quality assurance..." :D I would love to see the look on their face!


Heh,heh, personally I'd prefer just laying a 44 magnum on the counter!;)

I'm with srothfuss on this. Looks like stressed plastic to me. I would not rule out a process change at the IP manufacturer though. Been there, seen their place, met their people, left not impressed...

LOL... Gotta love dog and pony show tours where they don't even clean up before you arrive!