Part of the Jeep Wrangler’s appeal is its ability to shed its roof. Doing so is even easier nowadays with the optional Power Sky Top, and pretty much any Jeep model has some kind of sunroof. However, Jeep hasn’t always hit the mark with its automatic roof upgrades. In fact, the Jeep Liberty’s Sky Slider sunroof may have been one of the automaker’s worst inventions.

What is the Jeep Sky Slider?

As Autopian explained, the Sky Slider sunroof was introduced as an option for the 2008 Jeep Liberty. It’s a soft-top roof that’s installed on a motorized canvas, so you can roll it back to open up 75% of the roof area. It’s also impervious to jamming thanks to an obstacle-detection mechanism. 

One on hand, we can see why the Sky Slider sunroof would appeal to a lot of consumers. It basically acted as a panoramic moonroof during a time when only traditional moonroofs were offered. It also gave drivers the opportunity to experience a versatile roofing option just like the Jeep Wrangler. 

To sweeten the deal even further, the Liberty offers more second-row legroom and standard air conditioning. While the Wrangler is still the superior off-roading option, you can still appreciate a breezy drive with the Sky Slider on civilized pavement. 

The Sky Slider roofs created lots of problems

The NHTSA has pages of complaints about the Sky Slider, citing everything from severe water damage to complete malfunction of the roof itself. One complaint showcases a photo of a headliner that has dirty brown water stains because the Sky Slider leaked. It indicates that the Sky Slider doesn’t have the appropriate sealing to substitute for a hardtop roof.

On Facebook, drivers also supplied video evidence to back up their claims. One clip shows water dripping from all four corners of a Jeep Liberty’s interior, even flowing down in a steady stream at one point. Sloshing water can be heard when the driver opens one of the car doors. 

Leaks aside, it appears that many Sky Slider roofs suffer from shoddy construction. It’s prone to disconnecting from its track completely and can’t be reattached. In a complaint from 2018, one driver says the roof became disconnected as they were driving at highway speeds. A similar complaint was filed in 2020, where the driver claimed that this very issue caused “multiple accidents”.

Additionally, some complaints say that the sliding mechanism itself also stops working eventually. The cables will disconnect from the guide rails, potentially before the vehicle even has 45,000 miles on the odometer.

Jeepz Organics, who runs the Jeep Sky Slider Roof Problems Facebook group, also explains why this roof is so unreliable. After examining the parts, it’s apparent that the cables are too weak to handle the force requirements of the transmission and motor. This is what causes the cables to strip and eventually become dislodged from the guide rails. 

If you’ve got a hefty repair budget, you can get a new custom cover made with aluminum or some other sheet metal. As seen on Autopian, some drivers were even able to secure their roofs back in place with heavy-duty glue or ratchet straps. There’s also a mechanic who has reportedly fixed hundreds of Sky Slider Roofs for $1,700 each.

Does Jeep offer replacement parts for Sky Slider sunroofs?

The OEM Sky Slider has long since been discontinued on Chrysler’s website, though some Jeep dealerships still carry it. However, because of the part’s expense alongside the associated labor costs, it’s probably not even worth the hassle. It’s a shame that FCA left Liberty buyers with so little support about this issue, but at least you have numerous DIY repair options.