They're Spending $1,000 Monthly for a Jeep That’s Sitting at a Dealership Unable to Repair It | Carscoops

      The owner claims that all issues are linked to the Jeep's electrical systems.

      A Michigan couple is suing Jeep after their Grand Cherokee 4xe unexpectedly stopped.

      Their plug-in hybrid SUV reportedly shut down while they were traveling in the fast lane on I-75.

      The Jeep has been unused for months, yet they continue to incur $1,000 in lease expenses.

      Only a month after Stellantis recalled over 90,000 Grand Cherokee 4xe models due to a software problem that can lead to unexpected shutdowns, a couple from Monroe County, Michigan, found themselves in a legal dispute with the automaker regarding the same issue.

      In 2023, PJ Phillips and his wife leased a brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe that had just 16 miles on the odometer.

      Their lawsuit states that they later learned the SUV had previously undergone significant repairs involving crucial components of its hybrid powertrain. From then on, they insist the vehicle became a continuous source of annoyance.

      What Happened?

      Things took a concerning turn in May of this year when Carly Phillips was driving in the fast lane on I-75 when the Jeep suddenly stopped.

      Fortunately, she managed to pull over safely, but since that occurrence, the Grand Cherokee has remained at a Jeep dealership, while the family continues to pay approximately $1,000 monthly in lease payments and insurance.

      The owner alleges that the local Jeep dealership declined to service the vehicle due to its complicated repair history.

      Last year, CJ began looking into Michigan’s Lemon Law and arranged for arbitration with FCA in April 2024. This arbitration sided with FCA, according to Click on Detroit, citing the warranty coverage and asserting the issues had been resolved.

      However, following the incident on I-75, a second arbitration took place and favored the family.

      Jeep’s Electrical Issues

      The couple asserts that their SUV has experienced various electrical problems, including malfunctioning reversing cameras, inconsistent crash detection, and issues with steering and navigation. They are requesting that Jeep buy back the Grand Cherokee 4xe at a fair price, expressing their lack of confidence in further repairs.

      “Every problem we've encountered with this vehicle is electrical – it’s not mechanical, it’s not the transmission, it’s not wheels coming off – it’s all related to electrical components,” Phillips stated to the news outlet.

      “For us to take that financial hit as a middle-class family – I work full time, my wife works part-time – we can’t afford a $10,000 loss like that,” he said, referring to the financial burden they would encounter if they traded in the SUV.

      In September, Stellantis revealed it would be recalling 91,787 Grand Cherokee 4xe models from the 2022-2026 model years, citing a software issue that could result in a loss of power.

      The company noted that an overloaded microprocessor in the Battery Pack Control Module could cause the shutdown. Whether this same malfunction led to the Phillips’ Jeep stalling on the highway is still uncertain.