Samsung Battery Fire Hazard Triggers Recalls For 180,000 Vehicles Among Four Brands | Carscoops

      Last year, vehicles from Audi, Jeep, VW, and Ford were recalled, and it has now been revealed that the underlying issue stemmed from Samsung.

      Samsung has taken responsibility for a series of recalls impacting over 180,000 cars. Specifically, a total of 180,196 vehicles from Ford, Volkswagen, and Stellantis are included in this recall.

      At this point, the exact solution is not known, but the symptoms appear to be consistent among the affected brands.

      It’s not often that a recall involves multiple automakers simultaneously, but today marks such an occurrence. Samsung has announced a recall impacting 180,196 vehicles across Ford, Audi, and Stellantis due to a possible failure of a high-voltage battery pack that could lead to fires.

      Among the brands impacted, Stellantis faces the most significant problem. According to Samsung, 155,096 Stellantis vehicles are at risk. The recall specifically involves the 2020-2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, both of which are plug-in hybrid models.

      As reported by the NHTSA, the battery packs in these vehicles can suffer from separator damage. This damage, coupled with other interactions within the battery cells, could lead to a fire risk. Ford vehicles also included in the recall may face a similar issue, specifically the 2020-2024 Ford Escape and the 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair.

      Ford informed Samsung that investigations showed “the high voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be prone to damage due to the cell manufacturing process.” However, neither Volkswagen nor Samsung have specified the exact problem for the vehicles under that brand. The models affected include the 2022 A7 and the 2022-2023 Q5.

      Details regarding the affected Volkswagen vehicles indicate that thermal overload could lead to smoke or fire. While both issues differ, the first can result in the second. In cases of thermal runaway, fires become highly likely and difficult to extinguish.

      Samsung acknowledges that a definitive solution has yet to be determined, but Ford owners will at least receive an alert. If their vehicle detects a problem, a “Stop Safely Now” message will appear on the dashboard. Audi and Stellantis owners do not have such a notification; their best course of action is to address the recall as soon as possible.

      Currently, the only apparent solution for all brands involves a software update that will notify owners if the battery system identifies an issue. Until a resolution is implemented, it may be wise to park vehicles outside, just in case.