Jeep Recalls Over 320,000 Plug-In Hybrid SUVs Due to Fire Risks
Jeep has announced a recall affecting more than 320,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs in the U.S. following reports of fire hazards linked to 19 incidents. The company is advising owners to refrain from charging their vehicles and to park them away from buildings until the necessary repairs are made.
This recall includes the 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4XE and 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE models, which can pose a fire risk even when turned off. Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, has stated, “Out of an abundance of caution, the company is advising the owners of these vehicles to park them away from structures and other vehicles until a remedy is available.”
However, it seems the risk decreases once the battery is completely drained.
To address the findings, Jeep initiated an internal probe after reviewing customer data that revealed these fire incidents. Stellantis has communicated that a solution is forthcoming and that vehicle owners will be alerted when they can schedule repairs.
Importantly, this recall also extends to around 20,700 vehicles in Canada, 2,600 in Mexico, and about 32,000 in other regions beyond North America.
Previous Recalls and Ongoing Concerns
This latest announcement comes just a couple of months after another recall involving over 91,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hybrids due to a software glitch that could potentially lead to a loss of driving power.
In some of the 2022-2026 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids, an overload in the battery pack control module’s microprocessor could trigger a reset, which might confuse the hybrid control processor. This malfunction can result in loss of power, as noted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Out of the nearly 92,000 vehicles, only about 1%, or approximately 918, have been flagged as potentially defective according to the NHTSA.
Additionally, earlier this year, NHTSA reported that over 63,000 Jeep Cherokees from the 2017 to 2019 model years would be recalled due to an issue with their power transmission unit.
In a related note, in November, Stellantis revealed plans to temporarily lay off over 1,000 workers at its Jeep assembly plant in Ohio to adjust inventory levels according to market demand.
