Bestop, Inc.: Equipment
Bestop, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Jun 7, 2004 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 80. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
The risk
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.
13 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Jeep Wrangler | 98 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 2002 Jeep Wrangler | 108 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 2001 Jeep Wrangler | 170 | 7 | 16 | 17 |
| 2000 Jeep Wrangler | 251 | 5 | 20 | 17 |
| 1999 Jeep Wrangler | 213 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
| 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 265 | 6 | 9 | 23 |
| 1997 Jeep Wrangler | 401 | 7 | 5 | 32 |
| 1995 Jeep Wrangler | 202 | 3 | 6 | 27 |
| 1994 Jeep Wrangler | 151 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 1993 Jeep Wrangler | 108 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 1992 Jeep Wrangler | 77 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| 1991 Jeep Wrangler | 76 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| 1990 Jeep Wrangler | 79 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 04E041000.
Full record for the 2003 Jeep Wrangler → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →