Jeep Wrangler And Grand Cherokee Battery Failure Could Cause Fire

This concern was first brought to light in June 2024 when FCA's Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) division launched an investigation following two reports of vehicle fires originating from the high voltage (HV) battery in some Jeep Wrangler PHEVs. Notably, these vehicles were not covered under a previous recall, FCA US Recall ID B9A (NHTSA campaign number 23V-787), which had addressed a similar problem.

As additional reports surfaced involving both Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEVs, FCA began a more in-depth analysis of the battery packs, working in collaboration with Samsung SDI, the supplier of the batteries. The goal was to identify the root cause of the fires.

Throughout the summer of 2024, more cases emerged, and some of these affected vehicles had already received the remedy for the B9A recall. However, FCA soon determined that this remedy was insufficient in detecting certain critical abnormalities in the HV battery system. Samsung SDI identified that the likely cause was related to separator damage in the battery cells, combined with other intricate factors that heightened the risk of failure.

By September 2024, FCA had compiled 13 customer assistance records, one warranty claim, and 13 field reports potentially linked to this issue. After reviewing the data, the company made the decision to issue a recall for the impacted vehicles, seeking to prevent further incidents.

Owners of these vehicles have been strongly advised to park their vehicles outdoors and away from any structures. Additionally, FCA has urged them not to charge their vehicles until repairs have been completed. Dealers are expected to update the software for the high voltage battery pack and, if necessary, replace the entire battery pack assembly.

Interim notifications alerting owners to the safety risk were mailed on October 11, 2024. FCA plans to send out a second notification once the final remedy becomes available. Vehicles that were part of the previous recall (23V-787) will also require the new fix. The official recall number assigned by Chrysler is 95B, and the NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 24V-720.

This ongoing issue highlights the complexity of electric vehicle technology and the critical importance of safety in battery management systems. FCA is working diligently to resolve the problem, but until then, owners are urged to follow the safety guidelines provided to minimize risks.