“Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures,” warns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as Chrysler expands its recall to 320,065 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe vehicles. High-voltage battery defects could trigger fires, leaving owners stranded with $50,000-plus SUVs they cannot charge or safely garage.
The recall exposes manufacturing flaws, failed software fixes, and a growing threat to consumer confidence. Here’s what’s driving this urgent safety alert.
What Happened With These Jeeps
The recall, officially announced between November 3 – 4, involves vehicles produced from July 2020 to October 2025. Both models rely on high-voltage lithium-ion battery packs supplied by Samsung SDI America. Early reports indicated battery separator damage could trigger thermal runaway. Owners are told not to charge vehicles until a permanent fix is ready.
The Risk Behind ‘Park Outside’
The defect stems from microscopic separator punctures in battery cells. These tiny tears allow the cathode and anode to contact, causing rapid temperature spikes and fire. Stellantis has documented 19 fires across affected vehicles, with incidents occurring both stationary and while driving. But why did an earlier software fix fail to prevent these fires?
Previous Software Fix Failed
In November 2023, Stellantis issued a software-only remedy (Recall 24V-720 / Campaign 95B) meant to detect voltage abnormalities. Despite the update, nine documented fires still occurred in “fixed” vehicles. The detection system could not capture specific failure patterns, showing software alone cannot prevent thermal runaway. This failure forced the 2025 expanded recall.
Who Manufactures The Defective Batteries
Samsung SDI America, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, produced the high-voltage battery packs. Their cathode pole piece manufacturing created metal burrs that punctured the polyethylene separator during normal use. Stellantis and Samsung SDI have jointly investigated root causes, confirming that only a small percentage of cells contain this flaw, yet risk remains concentrated.
How Many Vehicles Are Affected
Approximately 320,065 vehicles in the U.S. are under recall: 228,221 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 91,844 Grand Cherokee 4xe models. Additional vehicles are affected internationally, including 20,753 in Canada, 2,653 in Mexico, and 32,238 elsewhere. Stellantis estimates that the defect could affect roughly 5% of battery packs, concentrating fire risk within a small subset.
Where Owners Must Park Vehicles
The official NHTSA advisory states: “Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until their vehicle has been remedied.” Charging is prohibited.
Owners without suitable outdoor parking face logistical challenges, and many vehicles remain immobilized until the permanent remedy is available. Temporary parking rules are indefinite.
Interim Owner Instructions
Until the permanent remedy is deployed, owners must refrain from charging their vehicles and park outdoors. Stellantis has not disclosed a timeline for the final fix, leaving owners with inoperable $50,000+ vehicles. Dealers are working to schedule repairs, but capacity constraints mean many owners will face months of waiting.
Financial Impact On Stellantis
The 2025 recall costs are estimated at $240–$320 million, on top of $30–50 million from the 2024 recall. Combined, recall-related expenses exceed $270 million. Stellantis stock fell 48% between June 2024 and July 2025, partly due to cumulative recalls. Litigation, supplier claims, and regulatory fines could increase financial pressures further.
Consumer Risks And Lawsuits
Owners face potential fire hazards, insurance complications, and resale value collapse. One injury has been documented. Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed, citing breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and potential fatalities. Owners of $60K–$77K vehicles now face an uncertain safety landscape while Stellantis develops a permanent remedy.
Impact On Jeep Brand Reputation
Jeep’s plug-in hybrid strategy is now publicly associated with fire risk. Brand trust has suffered, and consumer confidence in electrified Jeep vehicles is declining. McKinsey research indicates U.S. PHEV purchase intent may shift to competitors, further challenging Jeep’s market share. How Stellantis navigates the EV transition is now under scrutiny.
Dealerships Face Operational Strain
Over 2,000 U.S. Jeep dealerships must manage the recall while maintaining routine service. High-volume repairs could overwhelm service departments for 6–12 months. Labor shortages, parts delays, and customer dissatisfaction add pressure. Dealers risk lawsuits if safety warnings or repairs are mishandled. Efficient recall execution will be critical to stabilizing the brand.
Samsung SDI Accountability
Samsung SDI produced defective cells with separator punctures. While the supplier acknowledges the defect, Stellantis bears primary liability to consumers. Multi-OEM supply to Ford, Audi, and Volkswagen raises concerns. Contractual penalties and reputational damage may follow. The recall highlights systemic vulnerabilities in battery manufacturing quality assurance across multiple automakers.
Broader Industry Effects
The recall has shaken PHEV market sentiment. Survey data shows a 42% increase in consumer concern over safety. EV adoption may slow as purchase intent dips. NHTSA and EPA may impose stricter validation requirements for batteries, potentially delaying future EV launches. Insurance premiums and lending criteria for PHEVs could also rise.
What’s Next For Owners
Stellantis has promised a permanent remedy through software updates or battery replacement at no cost. The timeline is pending. Owners must continue to park outside and monitor NHTSA.gov for announcements. The recall emphasizes the importance of proactive safety protocols, and how Stellantis resolves this issue will define consumer trust for years to come.