by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
While the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid vehicles have achieved lofty sales numbers for parent company Stellantis over the past few years, these models recently hit a snag following an internal review of customer data by the automaker.
Stellantis on Monday announced it is recalling an estimated 194,000 PHEV Jeeps after 13 reported fires while the vehicles were parked and turned off.
The recall impacts 2020 through 2024 model-year Jeep Wrangler 4xe models and 2022 through 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models. About 154,000 are in the United States, 14,000 in Canada, 700 in Mexico and nearly 26,000 outside of North America. Stellantis believes that only five percent of the recalled vehicles — approximately 9,700 — may have the defect, which involves damage to the battery cell separator.
”Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted,” Stellantis said in a statement. “Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained.”
Stellantis said a fix for this issue is imminent and dealers will soon be able to update high-voltage battery pack software or swap out the battery pack assembly as needed.
Affected owners should receive a notice in the mail by October 17. However, 4xe Wrangler or Grand Cherokee owners can check if their vehicle is part of the recall on the NHTSA website before Stellantis mails out an official letter.
This isn’t the first time Jeep’s highly-touted hybrid Wrangler faced a problem.
In November 2023, Stellantis recalled 32,125 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles built between 2021 and 2023 because of a potential internal failure in their high-voltage batteries. Like the current recall, they were reported to be parked and turned off at the time. The company said about one percent of those vehicles, around 321, were believed to have the defect.
Stellantis said some of those models are also affected by this latest recall and will need inspection again for a potential fix.
