If your Jeep Wrangler 4xe or Grand Cherokee 4xe has lost power on the road, or you have been told to wait for a recall repair that keeps not arriving, this page explains what Jeep found inside those engines and what your options are while you wait.
A Jeep 4xe engine recall has been issued after Fiat Chrysler, now Stellantis, received reports of 36 fires and three injuries involving defective Grand Cherokee and Wrangler plug-in hybrid models. Sand contamination in the engine block can cause internal damage severe enough to trigger engine failure, increasing the risk of propulsion loss or vehicle fires.
The safety recall report lists more than the fires. Separate from those incidents, Fiat Chrysler logged 144 warranty claims, 50 service reports and 36 customer assistance records involving an unrecoverable loss of power. The coincidence of two figures of 36 in the same filing is not an error: one counts fires, the other counts customer assistance records.
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Jeep 4xe Engine Recall Details
- Recall No.: 78C / NHTSA: 25V766000
- Number of Vehicles: 112,859
- Vehicle Models: 2023–2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE and 2024–2025 Jeep Wrangler 4XE plug-in hybrids
- Safety Risk: Catastrophic engine failure, sudden power loss and vehicle fires.
- Cause: Sand from the casting process contaminates internal engine components.
- Remedy: A repair is still under development.
- Notification Schedule: Interim recall notices were mailed December 29, 2025. Additional notices will be mailed once the remedy has been determined.
Background of the Jeep 4xe Engine Defect
In late May 2025, Fiat Chrysler’s Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) organization opened an investigation after receiving an increasing number of reports of engine compartment fires and loss of propulsion in certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler PHEVs.
From May to August 2025, Fiat Chrysler analyzed warranty claims, repair orders, field incidents and other available vehicle data to determine what caused the loss of power and engine fires. After conducting multiple engine teardowns, Fiat Chrysler discovered that sand was present in the engine block. Fiat Chrysler later found that affected vehicles were built during a specific time period between June 2023 and March 2024, where the engines were not properly cleaned following the casting process.
In August 2025, Fiat Chrysler determined the root cause: sand contamination in the engine block.
Is My Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe or Wrangler 4xe Included?
You can check if your Jeep vehicle is under open recall through the following directors:
- Mopar’s FCA Recall Search Tool: Enter your Vehicle Identification Number into the search bar to find recalls affecting Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat or Alfa Romeo vehicles.
- NHTSA Recall Search Directory: Type your VIN or State License Plate number to find open recalls across any auto manufacturer.
You can also check whether your vehicle is included in the separate Jeep 4xe PHEV Battery Fire recall, which warns affected owners to park outside until a repair is available. Some Jeep 4xe owners may be included in both recalls.
Jeep 4xe Recall Contact Information
If you have questions or safety concerns, you may contact:
- Chrysler Customer Service: 800-853-1403
You can confirm your inclusion in Recall 78C or find a participating dealership to schedule a repair service. - NHTSA Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236
You can report vehicle safety incidents to NHTSA. Reports help federal safety regulators track trends across auto manufacturers and their vehicle lineups.
We recommend you schedule a service appointment as soon as repairs are available.
How to Schedule a Jeep 4xe Recall Repair
If your Jeep 4xe plug-in hybrid is experiencing engine-related issues, contact your local Jeep or Stellantis-authorized dealership to schedule a diagnostic appointment. You can locate a nearby dealership using Jeep’s online dealer directory and call the listed number to arrange service.
When you call, ask the service department to check whether your vehicle is included in Recall 78C. At this time, the remedy is still under development. Once the remedy is available, the dealership will perform the repair free of charge. Be sure to keep all paperwork provided during your visit.
If you pay for repairs that are later covered by this recall, ask the dealership or your Jeep representative if you qualify for reimbursement under Stellantis’ recall reimbursement program.
What Jeep 4xe Vehicle Owners Should Know
What the Jeep 4xe Engine Recall Means for a California Lemon Law Claim
The hardest part of this recall is not the defect. It is the waiting. Stellantis has told owners their engines may be contaminated and then asked them to keep driving while a remedy is developed. California law has something to say about that.
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, better known as the California lemon law, applies when a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle and the manufacturer or its dealerships have had a reasonable number of chances to repair it. Two features of that standard matter a great deal here. First, defects that can cause serious injury are judged more strictly than ordinary ones, and an engine that can catch fire is not an ordinary one. Second, the statute counts days out of service, so a Wrangler 4xe or Grand Cherokee 4xe sitting at the dealership waiting on a remedy that does not exist yet is accumulating exactly the record the claim is built on.
A recall that never produces a working repair does not end your rights. If your 4xe has already lost power, been towed, or gone back for the same engine fault more than once, that history may support a claim now rather than whenever the remedy lands. Keep every repair order, including the visits where nothing was found, and keep the recall letters with their dates.
The recall paperwork is public: the NHTSA recall entry and the Part 573 safety recall report contain the figures quoted above.
Our California lemon law guide walks through how the repair-attempt standard is applied, the California lemon law FAQ covers what owners ask first, and a Jeep lemon law attorney can look at the repair history with you for free. A successful claim ends in a buyback or a replacement vehicle, with the manufacturer paying the attorney fees.
Reviewed by Roger Kirnos, Managing Attorney, California State Bar No. 283163.
