Jeep has issued a recall for 154,032 plug-in hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to battery fire risks, urging owners to park away from other structures, as reported by the NHTSA last week.
The recall includes 118,230 units of the 2020-2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 35,802 units of the 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. The "4xe" designation represents Jeep's plug-in hybrid models.
This recall marks a significant expansion of a previous recall limited to just 32,125 Jeep Wrangler 4xes from the 2021-2023 model year. The expanded recall now encompasses all plug-in hybrids produced through Nov. 16, 2023, even though the brand estimates that only 1% of the recalled vehicles have the issue.
The recalled vehicles are equipped with a 17-kwh battery pack with cells that are "susceptible to separator damage," according to the NHTSA filing. This separator damage could lead to a vehicle fire whether parked or in motion. Jeep recommends against charging the recalled vehicles, as the fire risk is reduced when there is no battery charge. Jeep also advises owners to park outdoors and away from structures out of "an abundance of caution."
In August, battery supplier Samsung SDI informed Jeep that the separator issue is likely the cause, but the root cause remains under investigation.
Jeep acknowledged 13 field reports and two injuries related to the issue, but no crashes or fatalities.
A software flash performed at a dealer could remedy the problem; however, if not, Jeep will replace the high-voltage battery pack. Reimbursement will be offered to owners who have incurred costs for the repairs. Owners will be notified as early as Oct. 17 and will be advised to take their 4xe models to the dealer for the software update and/or battery replacement.
For more information, contact Jeep customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or visit Jeep's recall site.
