High-voltage battery packs made by Samsung could have an internal defect that can lead to a fire.
This is the second recall for the same issue, as previous repairs may not have fixed the problem.
20,753 of the affected Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe and Wrangler 4xe are in Canada.
Owners of 2020 to 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 2022 to 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models are told to stop charging their vehicle’s hybrid battery and park away from buildings and other cars, as Stellantis is working out a fix for a fire risk.
Indeed, an investigation has found that repairs previously made as part of a similar recall in 2023 might not have been effective, which means that these plug-in hybrid SUVs are still at risk of going up in flames.
According to Stellantis, the issue comes from a defect in some of the high-voltage batteries’ cell separator, which could cause a short circuit that can lead to a “thermal event”, or a fire, in simpler terms.
This can happen both while the vehicle is in motion or when it is parked with the ignition off, but the risk is greater when the battery is fully charged. This is why the automaker recommends drivers stop plugging in their Wranglers and Cherokees until a permanent fix is found.
This could take some time, as Stellantis is presumably working with Samsung, the company that makes these batteries, to work out an effective remedy.
2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xeOnly about five percent of the recalled vehicles are actually at risk of catching fire, but considering that 320,065 units are recalled in the United States, 20,753 in Canada, and 2,653 in Mexico, this leaves over 17,000 faulty SUVs in North America. Another 32,238 vehicles are located elsewhere globally.
To date, 19 fires caused by this manufacturing problem have been confirmed.
Fortunately for drivers, the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe can still be driven with an empty battery, but their fuel efficiency will suffer significantly.
This contrasts with a similar recall that affected all units of the Chevrolet Bolt EV a few years ago, where owners were advised not to use their vehicle until a new battery could be fitted.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe and Wrangler 4xe are also subject to another recall launched in September and October, respectively, which relates to a potential loss of power that stems from the hybrid control module.
In the case of the Wrangler, of which 1,707 units are affected in Canada, this bug is caused by a botched over-the-air update that can make the hybrid controller reset while driving, which would temporarily cut power to the wheels.
No specific cause is highlighted in Transport Canada documents relating to the Grand Cherokee, of which 3,476 units are involved.
Stellantis will begin mailing letters to owners of the vehicles affected by the latest recall (for fire risk) in December, which means repairs are likely to have to wait until next year.
