Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee owners have been warned to park outside and away from structures in the latest recall issued for 2020–2024 Wrangler and 2022–2024 Grand Cherokee vehicles at risk of high voltage battery fires.
On top of that, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee owners have been warned to not even charge their vehicles. The remedy is not available yet to Wrangler and Grand Cherokee owners.
So far, two alleged injuries are associated with the Jeep battery fires.
Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee Fire Recall: Quick Facts
Two recalls have been issued to address the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee PHEV fire risk. Affected vehicles have been placed under an urgent Jeep fire risk warning.
Current Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee Recall
- NHTSA Safety Issue ID: 24V720000
- Fiat Chrysler (Stellantis) Recall Number: 95B
- Vehicles Recalled: 2020–2024 Jeep Wrangler, 2022–2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle)
- Number Of PHEVs: 154,032
- Issue: The Jeep high voltage battery may cause an electric vehicle fire.
- Cause: The battery packs contain cells susceptible to separator damage which, when combined with other complex interactions within the cells, may cause fires.
- Safety Concern: Vehicle fires may injure drivers and passengers and cause damage to the vehicle and other property.
According to the NHTSA entry, interim recall notifications were mailed October 11, 2024.1 The proposed remedy will be a software flash for the high voltage battery pack and, if needed, a replacement battery pack assembly.2 Once the remedy is available, a second notice will be sent to affected Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator owners.
Jeep owners covered by the previous PHEV recall will need to revisit the dealership for the updated recall remedy once it is available.
Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee Recall Instructions
If you own a 2020–2024 Jeep Wrangler or a 2022–2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV, park your vehicle outside and away from structures that could catch fire and refrain from recharging your vehicle. According to the interim recall notices sent out, the risk of vehicle fires is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted.3
For further information, contact Jeep’s customer service or local dealership to see if you would qualify for the repair when it becomes available. You may also use NHTSA’s “Check For Recalls” tool and search your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if this recall covers your vehicle.
Chrysler/Jeep Recall Contact Information
Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV drivers can contact Chrysler’s customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or the National Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).
Related Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator Recalls
Previous Jeep Plug-in Electric Vehicle Recall
- NHTSA Safety Issue ID: 23V787000
- Fiat Chrysler (Stellantis) Recall Number: 89A
- Vehicles Recalled: 2021–2023 Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
- Number Of PHEVs: 32,125
- Issue: The high voltage battery may fail internally and cause vehicle fires while parked or driving.
- Cause: At the time of the defect report, the cause was still being investigated.
- Safety Concern: Vehicle fires may injure drivers and passengers and cause damage to the vehicle and other property.
According to the NHTSA entry,4 recall notifications were mailed to Jeep Wrangler owners beginning March 7, 2024. Jeep dealers offered to update the high voltage battery pack software and, if a Diagnostic Trouble Code sets, replace the battery pack.5
Hybrid Service Kit Battery Recall
- NHTSA Safety Issue ID: 24E080000
- Fiat Chrysler (Stellantis) Recall Number: 96B
- Vehicle Parts Recalled: Mopar Hybrid Service Kit Battery Packs, parts numbers 68488244AA and 68540591AA
- Number of Components: 1,064
- Issue: When the high voltage batteries are installed in the vehicle, they may fail internally and cause vehicle fires.
- Cause: These batteries were built with cells prone to separator damage.
- Safety Concern: Vehicle fires may injure drivers and passengers and cause damage to the vehicle and other property.
According to the NHTSA entry,6 recall notifications were expected to be mailed out starting October 17, 2024. Jeep dealers will repurchase the high voltage battery packs. If the parts have already been installed in the vehicle, dealers will update the high voltage battery pack software with a software flash and replace the battery pack assembly.7
Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee Battery Defect History
Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) began an investigation in May 2023 after receiving two field reports of 2021 Jeep Wrangler plug-in electric hybrid vehicles with fires coming from the high voltage batteries. That same month, FCA requested to repurchase both Jeep Wrangler vehicles to continue investigating the issue.
From May to September 2023, FCA received five more reports of 2021–2022 Jeep Wrangler PHEVs with high voltage battery fires and requested to repurchase them. FCA received two vehicle buybacks and had their HV battery packs disassembled to analyze their modules and cells. The time it announced the recall, it was aware of eight field reports related to the issue. It conducted a recall of 2021–2023 Jeep Wrangler PHEVs, during which it conducted software updates and any needed replacements of affected parts.
In June 2024, FCA received two reports of high voltage batteries causing fires in Jeep Wrangler PHEVs that had not been covered by the previous recall. From April to July, FCA received even more reports of the high voltage battery fires, including three reports of fires coming from high voltage batteries in Jeep Wranglers that had received the software update in the previous recall.
Through investigation of these Jeep Wranglers, FCA learned that the software remedy could not detect certain abnormalities that might otherwise cause vehicle fires in the high voltage batteries. By August 2024, FCA determined that the battery fires were caused by separator damage.
As of September 2024, FCA is aware of 12 customer assistance records, one warranty claim and 13 field reports related to the Jeep PHEV battery fire issue, which is linked to two injuries thus far.
What To Do With Your Jeep Wrangler Or Jeep Grand Cherokee
Follow Fiat Chrysler’s instructions to park outside, keep the Jeep vehicle away from flammable structures and refrain from recharging the vehicle. If you have received any recall notices, interim or normal notice, keep those documents. The interim recall notice recently mailed may look something like this.8
In the meantime, it is worth it to keep these phone numbers saved:
- Chrysler’s customer service: 1-800-853-1403
- National Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).
The Jeep vehicles are at risk of battery fires while parked or driven. You can use FCA’s customer service number or NHTSA’s “Check For Recalls” tool to confirm if your vehicle is covered by this important safety recall. If your vehicle is not confirmed to be covered by the safety recall and your vehicle has experienced a battery fire anyway, try to get a scheduled repair visit with your local Jeep dealership.
If you at any time take your Jeep vehicle to the dealership for a repair visit, hold onto the repair documents (commonly called “work orders” or “repair orders”) provided to you at the end of the visit. These documents record the reported concerns of the customer, the date of the visit, and an itemized list of repairs performed on your vehicle and the associated costs. If your repairs are part of a safety recall, they should be complimentary to you.
How You Can Get Compensation For An Unrepaired Jeep Wrangler Or Grand Cherokee
Vehicle owners covered by recalls without a currently available remedy may not realize that long wait times for repairs may entitle them to certain types of monetary compensation. That’s because under a specific consumer law, recalls and potentially ineffective repairs could be a sign that affected vehicle owners were sold defective vehicles.
Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (California’s lemon law), consumers who were sold or leased defective vehicles may be entitled to cash compensation, a vehicle replacement or a vehicle repurchase, plus a reimbursement of expenses incurred due to the repeated vehicle issues. On top of that, the auto manufacturer would have to pay your attorneys’ fees and costs as part of the final settlement if you win.
Under the California Lemon Law, a vehicle may be considered defective (or a “lemon”) if it has a vehicle issue that affects its use, value or safety, is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and has not been repaired by the auto manufacturer within a reasonable number of repair attempts. If your Jeep vehicle has an issue that could not be resolved after multiple repair visits, you may have been sold a lemon.
Our lemon law attorneys have seen plenty of cases in which long waits for repairs under recall have entitled our clients to financial compensation under the California Lemon Law. It is important for manufacturers to address vehicle safety issues in a timely fashion. An inability or failure on a manufacturer’s part to provide important repairs under a safety recall partially led to one of our lemon law clients being awarded substantial compensation.9
Consult a Jeep lemon law attorney in California to learn more about your consumer rights. We offer free consultations to California residents who suspect that their vehicles are possibly defective. The consultation process will include some questions about your vehicle, your repair history and an evaluation of your repair orders. We can also answer questions about your legal options regarding your Jeep vehicle.
Our lemon law help will cost you nothing out of pocket. Our lemon law firm only gets paid if we win your case. Our attorneys’ fees and costs would be compensated by the manufacturer as part of the final settlement. Contact our Jeep lemon law attorneys by dialing 833-208-8181 or fill out our consultation form at the bottom of this page.
References
- (2024, September 27). High Voltage Battery May Fail and Cause Fire. Track Recalls & Safety Issues by NHTSA ID; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=24V720000
- (2024, September 27). Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V-720. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V720-8602.PDF
- IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL High Voltage Battery. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RIONL-24V720-1259.pdf
- (2023, November 22). High Voltage Battery May Fail and Cause Fire. Track Recalls & Safety Issues by NHTSA ID; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=23V787000
- (2023, November 23). Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-787. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V787-2073.PDF
- (2024, September 27). High Voltage Battery May Fail and Cause Fire. Track Recalls & Safety Issues by NHTSA ID; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=24E080000
- (2024, September 27). Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24E-080. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24E080-1997.PDF
- IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL High Voltage Battery. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RIONL-24V720-1259.pdf
- (2024, October 3). Honda Pilot Lawsuit: Honda Fails To Handle Lemon Law Buyback Requests. Lemon Law Help. https://lemonlawhelp.com/honda-failure-buyback-requests/
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
