Dimpling and cracks in ceiling —- need help diagnosing

Need help diagnosing the cracking and dimpling in my kitchen ceiling. The picture with the lights shows the total view… the edges of the cracking almost form about a 3x4-foot rectangle and there is dimpling in the middle area. I have also included a closeup picture of the dimpling and one of the cracks.

There is a unit (my neighbor) above me and her kitchen is directly above mine. I thought perhaps the issues in the ceiling were due to a possible leak in my neighbor’s kitchen.

However, I had a plumber come and his feeling was that the ceiling doesn’t appear to have water damage. And he also assessed my neighbor’s kitchen which he said was dry.

Does anyone know what the cracking and dimpling might be? Does it need to be repaired?

 

The cracks in the tape usually indicate it was wet at some point. Maybe not currently wet, but something overflowed sometime in the past and sat up there. Dimples are weird but probably sane issue or maybe it has been repaired in the past and needs repair again.

In all likelihood it should be torn down and replaced inside the entire area where the tape is ripped.

 

Replacement is usually the best option for sheetrock. Cut out that damaged section over to the seam and replace with new sheetrock. While you have the sheet down it will be easy to inspect for a possible cause. There may be evidence of a past water leak or insect damage.

 

While getting wet is the most likely scenario heavy objects being dropped on the floor above along with the j/c having been overly thinned in the taping process is also a possibility.