[notfarnow]

On dad's car, they had been replaced 2 years previously. He had exactly the same symptoms as you, and we found the brass gear in the latching motor was cracked.

I think it's got more to do with how much use they get and how well adjusted the top is. If it's not adjusted properly, the raising/lowing motors can start moving the top before the motor is completely unlatched. Hard on the latching motors.

So, when you are operating top, sometimes it won't latch down all the way, right? When that happens, is the red light on?

I'd be tempted to open & close the roof until it misbehaves, and then test the SR/SL pin for ground:
- if it's NOT showing a ground when it's still unlatched, that means the microswitch in the motor is being triggerd too early.

Are you getting any funny sounds from that corner, like skipping or groaning?