Stellantis has announced a large recall of about 375,000 plug-in hybrid Jeep vehicles worldwide after several reports of battery fires. The recall covers certain Jeep Wrangler 4xe models from 2020 to 2025 and Grand Cherokee 4xe models from 2022 to 2026, with around 320,000 of these vehicles located in the United States. The automaker is asking owners to avoid charging their vehicles and to keep them parked outside, away from buildings and other cars, until the issue is fixed.
The problem comes down to the high-voltage battery packs supplied by Samsung SDI. Internal investigations found that damage to the battery cell separators can cause electrical shorts, which may lead to fires. Stellantis has recorded 19 fire incidents related to this defect and one injury. Notably, some fires have occurred even after vehicles were repaired in earlier recalls during 2023 and 2024, showing that those fixes did not fully solve the issue.
Stellantis expects to have a permanent fix soon and will notify affected owners when it’s ready. Meanwhile, the company advises avoiding charging the vehicles at all, as the risk is highest when the battery is fully charged or in the process of charging.
This recall follows a recent safety campaign by Stellantis that involved pulling nearly 300,000 vehicles in the U.S. for unrelated safety concerns. It also comes at a challenging time for the automaker, which is working to improve sales and dealer relations in North America. CEO Antonio Filosa has promised a big investment in U.S. operations to build more vehicles domestically and reassure customers and regulators.
The recall highlights a broader issue affecting plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries, while offering efficiency and clean energy benefits, carry a risk of fire, especially when charging or parked. Other carmakers like Audi, BMW, Ford, Volvo, and Volkswagen have faced similar problems and issued their own recalls, often telling owners not to charge their vehicles until repairs are done.
For insurance companies, these recalls raise new concerns. Fires caused by high-voltage batteries could lead to property damage claims even when cars are parked at home. Insurers are starting to review how they cover risks linked to electric vehicle charging and storage, both in residential areas and commercial settings.
Jeep owners affected by this latest recall should get in touch with Stellantis customer service or visit recalls.mopar.com for more details and updates on the repair process.