Jeep’s popular 4xe powertrain offers a compelling blend of efficiency and off-road capability, but they aren’t immune to issues. The automaker is recalling almost 200,000 vehicles equipped with the plug-in hybrid system due to an increased fire risk, though the issue is likely only present in a small number of the recalled population.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn’t published the recall yet, but we know that Jeep has recorded 13 instances of fires in the 2020-2024 Wrangler 4xe and the 2022-2024 Grand Cherokee 4xe. The automaker estimates that around five percent of the almost 200,000 vehicles recalled have the problem. Jeep said the fire risk diminishes as the battery depletes and is advising owners to park away from structures while it develops a fix.
Jeep will issue a software update to fix the problem, but it said that if a certain error code is present, it will replace the battery pack. Jeep may also reimburse owners who incurred expenses related to the problem, but we don’t know if any of the reported fires caused property damage or injuries.
This is the second fire-related recall for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The automaker pulled back 44,000 SUVs last year after discovering eight fires related to the vehicle’s battery system. The Pacifica Hybrid from sister company Chrysler also had a recall earlier this year for fire risk.
[Images: Jeep]
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