Stellantis Recalls 320,000 Hybrid Jeeps in US on Fire Risk
Owners Are Advised Not to Charge Vehicles Until Batteries Are Fixed
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Stellantis NV is recalling just over 320,000 Jeep plug-in hybrids in the U.S. over risk the vehicles’ batteries will catch fire.
High-voltage battery packs in Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models may have been built with cells susceptible to separator damage, according to a notice posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. Stellantis is advising owners to park their vehicles outside and not charge them until the batteries are fixed.
The manufacturer is working on a remedy, according to its recall report. The vehicles recalled include Wranglers produced from July 2020 through late August of this year, and Grand Cherokees built from July 2021 through mid-October.
News of the fire risk comes as Stellantis starts to reap some benefits from measures to regain market share in the U.S., its most important market. Shipments have started to pick up in North America after the ailing carmaker worked down inventories.
CEO Antonio Filosa last month pledged to invest about $13 billion in the U.S. to maintain momentum. He has unwound moves by his predecessor Carlos Tavares, who cut costs and shifted production and engineering work to lower-cost countries including Mexico during his tenure.
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