Stellantis released a statement today urging owners of 45,230 2021-2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids across the globe to avoid charging their Wranglers and park them away from structures and other vehicles due to a risk of fire.
Though the company didn’t offer an explanation for the potentially catastrophic issue, it did explain how they will determine if your Jeep is a firebomb. Stellantis claims that when a software flash is performed at-risk vehicles will show an error code, and the only solution requires replacement of the vehicle’s hybrid battery pack. The company estimates only 1% of the vehicles involved in the recall may have the defect, and that owners may still drive their vehicles.
According to the statement, a routine review of customer data showed eight recorded cases of combusting 4xe’s, all of which were parked and six of which were connected to a charger at the time of conflagration. Stellantis reported no injuries due to the fires.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the purpose of purchasing a plug-in hybrid is so you can plug it in and save on gas, right? The fact that Stellantis is asking its customers to avoid charging their PHEV Wranglers is annoying, but with that being said, please heed these warnings so we can all avoid the headache of exploding Jeeps in parking garages. Check the NHTSA website to determine if your Wrangler 4xe is affected in this recall at this link.
The Wrangler 4xe has topped the PHEV sales charts in the U.S. since mid-2021, and 4xe sales were up 31% in Q1 of 2023 over the same time period last year. The Grand Cherokee 4xe currently holds the number two spot on the PHEV list, but it’s not affected by this recall.
This is just the latest recall for the Wrangler 4xe, as certain examples of Jeep’s first PHEV were recalled at the end of 2022 for the potential to experience random engine shutdowns. Despite this model’s chart-topping popularity among PHEV buyers in the U.S., it has not proven to be a particularly reliable vehicle.
The Jeep Wrangler has the distinct honor of being listed on Consumer Reports’ Top 10 Least Reliable Cars of 2023 list, with the same site listing seven active recalls for various Wrangler models since 2022, not including today’s recall.