Jeep owners take pride in their vehicles’ rugged capabilities, but a significant number of owners in the United States and Canada are now being asked to keep their SUVs parked outside. This unusual request comes as the Stellantis brand addresses a potential fire hazard related to plug-in hybrid systems.
What’s Causing the Heat?
A widespread recall has affected over 300,000 Jeep vehicles across North America. Specifically, 228,221 Wranglers (model years 2020-2025) and 91,844 Grand Cherokees (model years 2022-2026) are involved. The issue has been traced to a problem with the Samsung battery packs used in the brand’s 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The potential defect lies within the battery cell separator. If this component fails, it could lead to an internal short circuit. While automakers refer to this as a “thermal event,” the reality is a fire risk. Fortunately, Stellantis estimates that only about 5% of the affected vehicles are likely to experience this issue, but they stress that this small percentage still represents unacceptable risk.
What’s Jeep Saying?
Until a permanent solution is implemented, owners of affected vehicles are being advised to:
- Keep their vehicles parked outdoors, away from structures like garages or carports.
- Avoid charging their plug-in hybrids until the recall repairs are completed.
The Timeline
The recall notification process is set to begin in December. Stellantis is currently developing the specific repair procedure but has not yet finalized the details. Owners will receive direct mail notifications once the process is confirmed.
This extensive recall highlights the importance of battery safety in electric and hybrid vehicles. While the risk is acknowledged to be rare, the potential consequences are severe, and manufacturers are taking this situation seriously
