Jeep is recalling more than 320,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs after discovering a potential risk of fire. This marks another setback for the automaker as EV sales across the industry slow.
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Fire risk and warning
According to Fox Business, Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, initiated the recall after conducting an internal investigation and identifying 19 recent fires. The company is now urging owners to stop recharging the vehicles and to park them away from buildings or other cars as a precaution.
The issue affects the 2020-2025 Wrangler 4xe and 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4xe models. Stellantis states that the vehicles could catch fire even when turned off, although the risk is lower when the battery is fully discharged.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the company is advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained,” Stellantis said in a statement.
No repair is currently available, but Jeep says owners will be notified as soon as a solution is approved and service can be scheduled.
Previous hybrid issues
This marks the second major recall in recent months for Stellantis’ hybrid lineup. In September, the company recalled more than 90,000 Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids in the U.S. for a software malfunction in the battery pack control module that could cause a sudden loss of driving power.
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that only about 1% of those affected vehicles had the defect, the issue prompted heightened scrutiny of Jeep’s hybrid reliability.
Company outlook
Despite the recalls, Stellantis reported a 13% year-over-year revenue increase at the end of October, driven by strong North American sales. The company also announced a $13 billion U.S. manufacturing investment over the next four years, its largest investment in the United States to date.
