781,000 Jeeps Caught Up In NHTSA Investigation Over Underhood Fires

NHTSA Investigates Underhood Fires on Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler

• The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has opened a probe into underhood fires on the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler.
• More than 781,000 Jeeps built for the 2021-23 model years fall under the scope of the investigation looking at fires breaking out with the ignition switched off.
• The ODI has received one report of an injury and several more incidents of fire.

Almost 800,000 Jeeps have become the focus of a safety investigation by US regulators due to reports of electrical fires causing injuries.

Possible Fire Origin at Power Steering Pump Connector

Many reports received by ODI investigators suggest that Jeeps have caught fire while the engine was not running and the ignition was switched off. These reports point to a potential issue with an electrical connector at the power steering pump. Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, is aware of several thermal events related to this connector on different Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles.

Potential Recall and Ongoing Analysis

The investigation by the ODI may lead to a recall in the future. Currently, the ODI is analyzing the cause and frequency of the fires before taking further action.

Other Recalls and Issues

While the investigation is ongoing, it is worth noting that Wrangler and Gladiator models are already subject to other recalls. One recall addresses an internal short circuit in the instrument cluster, affecting around 33,000 Gladiators from 2020-24 and Wranglers from 2018-24. Another recall was issued last month to resolve stalling issues in manual transmission models, although this only affected 94 units.

It is important for Stellantis dealers to address these recalls promptly, especially considering the potential fire risk in the investigated Jeep models.