Jeep® Recalls 44,000 Wrangler 4xe For Battery Pack Fire Risk

Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has initiated a sweeping recall affecting over 44,000 units of its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited 4xe (JL) SUVs globally. The recall comes in response to a concerning discovery that the high-voltage battery pack in these vehicles may pose a fire risk.

This action follows an internal investigation triggered by a routine review of customer data, uncovering eight incidents of vehicle fires. Alarmingly, all reported fires occurred while the vehicles were parked and turned off, with six of them being connected to chargers at the time.

Stellantis has urged affected owners to exercise caution, advising them not to recharge these hybrid vehicles and to park them away from structures and other vehicles until the necessary remedies are implemented.

The remedy primarily involves a software flash to rectify the issue. However, in cases where a certain undisclosed error code is observed, the entire battery pack will be replaced. Stellantis estimates that approximately one percent of the affected vehicles might harbor this defect. Owners will be promptly contacted and informed about scheduling the necessary service procedure.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine working in conjunction with a motor generator unit integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission. This hybrid system delivers a combined output of 375 horsepower. Notably, the high-voltage battery powering the electric motor within the gearbox boasts a capacity of 17 kWh, offering an all-electric range of 21 miles on a full charge.

During the third quarter of this year, the Wrangler 4xe marked a significant presence as the top-selling plug-in hybrid passenger car in the United States, recording sales of 17,662 units. To put this into perspective, the combined sales of Toyota and Lexus PHEVs in the U.S. during Q3 stood at just 12,678 units.

The recall encompasses specific 2021 to 2024 model-year Jeep Wrangler 4xe units, impacting 32,125 vehicles in the United States, an estimated 3,856 in Canada, and 9,249 outside North America.