Jeep Advises 320,000 Owners to Park Outdoors Following Samsung Battery Issue | Carscoops

      Thousands of Wranglers and Grand Cherokees are being recalled due to a fire hazard, but a solution is not yet available.

      Over 320,000 Jeep hybrids are affected by this serious fire risk.

      The action involves 20-25 model year Wranglers and 22-26 model year Grand Cherokees.

      Only the plug-in hybrid variants are at risk because of defective battery packs.

      Jeep owners value their SUVs for their versatility, but around 320,000 units in the U.S. and an additional 20,000 in Canada cannot be parked just anywhere.

      The outdoor-focused Stellantis brand advises owners to park these vehicles away from other cars and structures while addressing a fault that poses the potential for fire, threatening the vehicles and anything in their vicinity.

      What’s Behind the Fire Risk?

      In the U.S., 228,221 Jeep Wranglers from model years 2020-2025 and 91,844 Grand Cherokees from model years 2022-2026 are part of the recall due to the fire risk. The issue is specific to models equipped with a 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain, linked to a defect in the Samsung battery pack.

      The problem lies in the battery cell separator. If this component fails, it might create a short circuit within the battery pack, which in rare instances could lead to what automotive manufacturers term a “thermal event,” commonly known as a fire.

      Stellantis estimates that only about five percent of the recalled vehicles may be affected, but considering the fire risk, even five percent is too many.

      Until a solution is found, Jeep owners are advised to keep their hybrid vehicles parked outdoors, away from garages, carports, or any flammable materials. They are also instructed not to charge the vehicles until the recall repairs are finalized.

      This repair work is not expected to begin until at least December when Jeep will start sending notification letters to owners. However, the company is currently unsure of the exact method for correcting the issue, as they are still in the process of determining a resolution.

      This marks the second Jeep hybrid recall reported in recent weeks. Late last month, the brand recalled nearly 25,000 Wrangler 4xe SUVs due to a faulty over-the-air update that caused malfunctions in their hybrid systems, leading to loss of drive in some instances.