by Software Update Issues with Jeep Wrangler 4xe
A recent over-the-air software update for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe has led to serious vehicle safety issues. Instead of improving functionality, the update caused critical failures in the vehicles’ operation.
Beginning of the Incident
The first complaints about update issues appeared at the beginning of the week. One owner on the 4xe Forums shared that after installing the update, his vehicle suddenly shut down while driving around the neighborhood. The engine stopped without warning, with a check engine light and a “Shift to Park” message appearing on the dashboard.
Another Reddit user described an even more dangerous situation: his Wrangler 4xe suddenly started braking on a highway at 65 mph, also with a “Shift to Park” message. The owner barely avoided a serious accident by emergency lane-changing across four lanes to stop on the shoulder. The problem was also demonstrated by a YouTuber, who noted that at one point he could not shift the transmission out of drive mode.
Stellantis Response and Warning
A Stellantis representative quickly responded to the complaints by posting a warning on the 4xe Forums. He urged owners who had already installed the update to exercise extreme caution, and those who had not yet completed the process to postpone it.
“Please exercise extreme caution this evening if you have already completed the update. If you have NOT completed the update and see a pop-up message, continue to postpone it so it does not install,” wrote the representative.
At the time of the warning’s publication, Jeep recommended avoiding the use of hybrid or electric modes; however, some owners reported that problems occurred even when using the gasoline engine. One forum participant called the situation “extremely unacceptable,” accusing the manufacturer of insufficient testing of the update before its release.
Fix from Jeep and Recommendations
Shortly after acknowledging the problem, Jeep announced its resolution. Owners are recommended to park the vehicle in an area with good mobile reception, leave it running for at least 10 minutes, and then restart it. After this, the malfunction should be eliminated.
The manufacturer also confirmed that it is providing assistance to customers whose vehicles were towed to dealerships and will reimburse related expenses. The current official Jeep recommendation is to complete the update when the car is parked at home, and then run the engine for approximately 20 minutes to ensure the corrections load correctly. Owners remain cautious, but the company insists the update is safe after the fix has been implemented.
This incident highlights the importance of thorough testing of software updates, especially for vehicles where any failure can pose a life-threatening risk. The manufacturer’s quick response helped prevent more serious consequences, but owner trust in such technologies may be undermined. In the future, automakers should increase the transparency of update processes and ensure reliable safety verification mechanisms.
