by Massive Jeep recall: over 1.3 million vehicles may catch fire even while parked
Owners of over a million Jeep vehicles have received an unpleasant warning. If you own certain models of the Wrangler or Gladiator, the company advises parking them outside, away from buildings, otherwise there is a risk that your SUV may catch fire.
Overall, the recall covers over 1.33 million Wrangler and Gladiator models from the 2021-2025 model years worldwide. In the United States, this affects 1,076,999 units, another 106,000 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico, and approximately 125,000 in other global markets.
Cause of the problem: electrical connection of the power steering pump
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the electrical connection associated with the electro-hydraulic power steering pump may have high resistance. This leads to excessive heat generation, which can ultimately cause a fire. The risk exists even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition off, so Stellantis urges owners to keep them away from buildings.
In the U.S., the vast majority of affected vehicles are Wranglers (787,887 units), while another 289,112 Gladiators (essentially extended pickup trucks based on the Wrangler) are included in the campaign. The issue affects vehicles built between mid-2020 and the end of 2024.
Jeep explains that the problem can occur when the electrical connection is not fully secured or has terminal-related defects. Investigators found that a poor connection can melt, creating conditions for surrounding materials to ignite. The automaker warns that a fire could occur both inside the vehicle and potentially affect nearby property.
Drivers may at least receive some warning before the situation becomes critical. Jeep notes that affected vehicles may lose power steering assistance or display a “Service Power Steering” message.
Jeep has known about the problem since 2023
The investigation has been ongoing for quite some time. Stellantis first studied reports of fires related to the power steering pump connection in 2023, and then resumed the investigation in 2024 after receiving additional incidents. The NHTSA also launched its own investigation into engine compartment fires associated with the Wrangler and Gladiator.
As of May 18, Stellantis reported 72 field reports related to this issue, including 35 confirmed cases caused by the power steering pump connection. The company also identified one potentially related injury, although it stated that it is not aware of any crashes caused by this defect.
Owners in the U.S. will begin to be notified in July, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace affected components as needed. Until then, Jeep recommends parking vehicles away from buildings and other vehicles to stay safe.
If this advice sounds familiar, it is because Jeep issued a strikingly similar warning last November, but for a completely different reason. At that time, approximately 320,000 Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrids were told to stay outside due to concerns that their battery packs could catch fire.
Jeep
This is not the first time Stellantis has faced large-scale safety issues related to fire risk. The fact that the company knew about the potential danger as early as 2023 but only now initiated a recall of this magnitude raises questions about the timeliness of its response. Owners should take the recommendation to park vehicles outdoors seriously, as the risk exists even for turned-off cars. Although the number of confirmed incidents (35) is relatively small compared to the total number of recalled vehicles, the potential consequences in the form of fire and property damage are too serious to ignore. It is expected that after July notifications, dealers will be able to fix the issue, but until then, caution remains a key safety factor.
