Headliner: Service and Repair

Headliner Replacement

Removal Procedure

Caution: If the energy absorbing foam breaks while you are removing or installing the headliner, use a NEW headliner. If you do not replace the damaged headliner, future personal injury is possible.


Important: Should some damage occur, other that the Energy Absorbing Foam, during the removal or the installation of the headliner, do not consider the headliner unusable. If there is no visible evidence of the damage to the headliner substrate of the cloth material that would be seen, the headliner is usable.



1. Remove the rear seat No. 2, if equipped. Refer to Seat Replacement - Rear No. 2 (Rear Seat Replacement - No. 2) in Seats.
2. Remove the spare tire carrier. Refer to Spare Tire Carrier Replacement (SUV) Spare Tire Carrier Replacement (SUT) in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the rear pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar (Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar) .
4. Remove the lock pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar (Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar) .
5. Remove the rear side window garnish trim.
6. Remove the rear lift gate opening upper garnish trim. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Liftgate (Trim Panel Replacement - Liftgate) .
7. Remove the left body side trim panel. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Left Body Side (Trim Panel Replacement - Left Body Side) .
8. Remove the hinge pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Hinge Pillar (Trim Replacement - Hinge Pillar) .
9. Remove the windshield garnish molding. Refer to Garnish Molding Replacement - Windshield Pillar (Garnish Molding Replacement - Windshield Pillar) .
10. Remove the I/P upper trim pad. Refer to Trim Pad Replacement - Instrument Panel (I/P) Upper (Trim Pad Replacement - Instrument Panel (I/P) Upper) in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console.
11. Remove the driver side knee bolster. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Knee Bolster (Trim Panel Replacement - Knee Bolster) in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console.




12. Disconnect the headliner wire harness connectors from the lower left instrument panel bussed electrical connectors (BEC).
13. Route the wire harness up through the instrument panel.
14. Remove the sunroof elace if equipped with sunroof.
15. Remove the dome lamps. Refer to Dome Lamp Replacement in Lighting Systems.
16. Remove the upper assist handles. Refer toAssist Handle Replacement - Rear (Assist Handle Replacement - Rear) .
17. Remove the sunshades. Refer to Sunshade Replacement (Sunshade Replacement) .
18. Remove the overhead console. Refer to Console Replacement - Overhead (Full Length) (Console Replacement - Overhead (Full Length))Console Replacement - Overhead (Short Length) (Console Replacement - Overhead (Short Length)) .




19. Partially remove all door opening weather stripping and position away from the headliner.




20. Move the front seats to the full forward position and move the seat backs to the full forward position also.




21. Fold the rear No. 1 seats to the full flat position.
22. Remove the push pins retainers that hold the headliner.
23. Rest the headliner on the seats.




24. Disconnect the rear washer hose.
25. The headliner should be removed through the rear lift gate opening. Position the headliner on an angle from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the lift gate opening.

Important: To minimize damage to the headliner it is necessary that 4 people perform the removal and installation process.






26. Position 2 people at the rear of the vehicle and 2 at each of the rear doors. Begin to guide the headliner out of the vehicle by slightly flexing it to gain clearance through the lift gate opening.
27. Slowly guide the headliner out of the rear lift gate opening and ensure that the edges of the headliner do not get caught on the body sheet metal.




28. As the headliner moves rearward in the vehicle, the people located at the rear doors should move to the rear lift gate opening to complete the removal of the headliner.
29. Place the headliner on a clean prepared surface.



Installation Procedure

Caution: If the energy absorbing foam breaks while you are removing or installing the headliner, use a NEW headliner. If you do not replace the damaged headliner, future personal injury is possible.


Important: To minimize damage to the headliner it is necessary that 4 people perform in the removal and installation process.



Important: Should some damage occur, other that the Energy Absorbing Foam, during the removal or the installation of the headliner, do not consider the headliner unusable. If there is no visible evidence of the damage to the headliner substrate or the cloth material that would be seen, the headliner is usable.







1. Using 4 people, position the headliner at the open rear lift gate.




2. Gently flex the headliner to create a bow and slowly feed the headliner into the lift gate opening at an angle from the lower left to the upper right corners.




3. Continue to feed the headliner into the vehicle. As the headliner is moved forward in the vehicle 2 people should move to the rear doors to complete the installation of the headliner into the vehicle.
4. Rest the headliner on the seats.
5. Connect the rear washer hose.
6. Install the push pins retainers that hold the headliner.
7. Return the rear seats to the full upright position.




8. Return the front seats to the full rear position and recline the seat backs to the full upright position also.
9. Install all door opening weather stripping.
10. Install the sunshades. Refer to Sunshade Replacement (Sunshade Replacement) .
11. Install the upper assist handles. Refer toAssist Handle Replacement - Rear (Assist Handle Replacement - Rear) .
12. Install the dome lamps. Refer to Dome Lamp Replacement in Lighting Systems.
13. Install the sunroof elace, if equipped with sunroof.




14. Install the wire harness down through the instrument panel.
15. Connect the headliner wire harness connectors to the lower left instrument panel bussed electrical connectors belch.
16. Install the driver side knee bolster. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Knee Bolster (Trim Panel Replacement - Knee Bolster) in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console.
17. Install the IP upper trim pad. Refer to Trim Pad Replacement - Instrument Panel (I/P) Upper (Trim Pad Replacement - Instrument Panel (I/P) Upper) in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console.
18. Install the windshield garnish molding. Refer to Garnish Molding Replacement - Windshield Pillar (Garnish Molding Replacement - Windshield Pillar) .
19. Install the hinge pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Hinge Pillar (Trim Replacement - Hinge Pillar) .
20. Install the left body side trim panel. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Left Body Side (Trim Panel Replacement - Left Body Side) .
21. Install the rear lift gate opening upper garnish trim. Refer to Trim Panel Replacement - Liftgate (Trim Panel Replacement - Liftgate) .
22. Install the rear side window garnish molding.
23. Install the lock pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar (Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar) .
24. Install the rear pillar garnish trim. Refer to Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar (Trim Replacement - Lock Pillar) .
25. Install the spare tire carrier. Refer to Spare Tire Carrier Replacement (SUV) Spare Tire Carrier Replacement (SUT) in Tires and Wheels.
26. Install the rear seat No. 2 if equipped. Refer to Seat Replacement - Rear No. 2 (Rear Seat Replacement - No. 2) in Seats.