Urgent recall of 200,000 hybrid SUVs that could catch fire and explode when ignition is OFF
An emergency recall has been issued for 194,000 plug-in SUVs after reports that the vehicles can catch fire even with the ignition switched off.
Jeep made the announcement Monday after more than a dozen vehicles caught fire after owners claimed they turned off the hybrids while in park.
The recall affects 2020 through 2024 models of the Wrangler 4xe and 2022 through 2024 models of the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
The US carmaker has urged owners not to park SUVs in their garages and instead leave the vehicles on the street.
Jeep has recalled nearly 200,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs that can catch fire and explode even when not turned on
Jeep’s owner, Stellantis, It is estimated that around five percent of vehicles are affected and the risk of fire decreases when vehicle battery levels are low.
‘That is why owners are advised not to charge. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until a resolution is found,” a Stellantis spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
Stellantis also explained that the risk of fire is reduced if the vehicle’s battery is dead, and urged owners not to charge the SUVs.
Customers have not yet been asked to bring their vehicles in for service and the spokesperson said a ‘resolution is imminent’, adding that they will notify affected vehicle owners when it is time to come in.
The recall mainly affects owners in the U.S., where 154,032 SUVs have been recalled nationwide, while about 14,000 have been recalled in Canada, 673 in Mexico and 25,502 outside North America.
DailyMail.com has contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for comment.