I just grounded the antenna to the inside of the tailgate. I still get the CB antenna warning on channel 40. My swr for channel 1 is 2.1 and channel 40 is 2.3. I can't get it down. Also I don't seem to be getting anything through, when I scan the channels nothing happens and when I go to the weather nothing but static.
I'm guessing those are the numbers off the built in SWR meter and not a stand alone unit? A 2.1 and 2.3 SWR shouldn't be in the danger area but the built in meters are not the most accurate. I'd google "grounding JK CB antenna", there are tons of great articles on various forums on the subject.
Even with a bad ground though, you should be able to pic up strong fqs like the NOAA channels. There may be something wrong with the radio but I would read through a few articles on grounding your antenna and try those methods before returning it.
FWIW, I run a cobra 19 on a 4' firestick with tunable tip on the TF carrier with a 4" spring without an extra antenna ground and after tuning with an actual SWR meter (by increasing the tip length) I run about 1.6 on 1 & 40.