Jeep is recalling more than 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs around the world because of a fire risk, even when the car is turned off.
The vehicles affected include Jeep Wrangler 4xe models from the years 2020 to 2024 and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models from 2022 to 2024. Most of these SUVs are in North America.
Most Recalled Jeep SUVs Are in North America
The recall happened after a study of customer data showed 13 fire incidents, with two people getting hurt. Stellantis, the company that owns Jeep, said the issue comes from a part of the SUV's battery. Stellantis believes that about 5% of the recalled cars may have this problem.
Jeep is telling people who own these vehicles to avoid charging their SUVs until the problem is fixed. They also recommend parking the cars outside, away from buildings or other vehicles, to avoid the chance of a fire.
According to AP News, Stellantis is working on a fix and will let customers know when they can bring their cars in for repairs. Stellantis assured drivers that they are working as fast as possible to solve this problem.
Out of the 194,000 recalled SUVs, about 154,000 are in the United States, 14,000 in Canada, 700 in Mexico, and nearly 26,000 in other countries. Stellantis said the recall started after they reviewed customer reports, which led to an investigation.
The fires happened while the SUVs were parked and not being driven. Stellantis mentioned that the risk of fire goes down when the battery is almost empty, but they still ask drivers not to recharge their vehicles until the repair is done.
Also Read: Harley-Davidson Issues Recall for 41,000 Motorcycles Due to Short-Circuit Concerns
Other Car Recalls
This recall is just one of many vehicle recalls happening this year. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced recalls for more than 77,000 Mazda vehicles because of a problem with the airbags. These airbags might not work right in a crash, which could be dangerous for passengers.
According to USA Today, Stellantis also recalled more than 15,000 Fiat cars because of a software issue that could cause the airbags to go off with too much force. The company will give free software updates to fix this issue. They will send letters to customers by November 7 to let them know when they can bring their cars in for the update.
Aside from the Jeep recall, General Motors (GM) also recalled more than 18,000 Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway models from the years 2013 to 2019. The problem with these cars is the brake line, which may not have enough space, causing a possible brake fluid leak.
If the fluid leaks, the brakes could fail, increasing the risk of accidents. GM is offering free repairs, and letters will be sent to car owners by November 4.
Mercedes-Benz and Harley-Davidson have also had recalls this year. Mercedes-Benz recalled 27,190 S580 and Maybach S580 cars from 2021 to 2023 because of a software problem that could make the engine overheat or stop working. This could cause a crash or even a fire. Mercedes-Benz will offer a free software update, and letters will go out by November 26.
Harley-Davidson recalled more than 41,000 motorcycles because of an electrical issue that could cause a short circuit and lead to a sudden loss of power, which increases the risk of an accident. Harley-Davidson will inspect and repair the bikes for free, with letters already sent to owners on September 23.
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