NHTSA Complaint #11500598 — 2010 JEEP WRANGLER

The muffler heat shield has become detached from all 4 fasteners and drops onto the top of the muffler. When starting the engine could hear a loud metal banging noise from the rear of the vehicle. Where the heat shield attaches to the body on 4 studs and is held in place by 4 zinc plated pal nuts, around the pal nuts the heat shield corrodes and separates from the zinc pal nuts allowing the heat shield to fall onto the muffler. On the Jeep Wrangler forums this is a widely discussed topic happening to many Jeep Wrangler owners from about the 2007 model year to about the 2015 model year. Some have just removed the heat shield by themselves and other have reportedly taken the Jeep Wrangler to Jeep or Chrysler dealerships where they have removed the heat shield. Is there a safety risk?? Not sure, but the manufacture installed the heat shield for a reason. This component, if there for a safety reason, should last almost the life of the vehicle. Only have 48K on the odometer.