Jeep 4xe Hybrid Owners Warned Not to Charge Their Trucks

Jeep has a new recall for its 4xe hybrids, covering both the Wrangler 4xe and the Grand Cherokee 4xe. For now, owners are advised not to charge their vehicles after the battery has depleted due to fire risk. Jeep says that a total of 320,065 units are affected between the two.

Jeep's PHEVs Need A Fix Due To Fire Risk

Wrangler 4xe models ranging from the 2020-2025 model year are affected, with only around 1 percent of the vehicles estimated to have the defect. Jeep's recall filings with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate the issue lies in the hybrid's battery cells, which "may have been built with a battery pack that contains cells which are susceptible to separator damage."

Battery separators are thin sheets of insulating material that physically separate the positive and negative electrodes in a battery. These prevent direct contact that could lead to a short circuit while still allowing the transfer of ions between the electrodes. Simply put, if the separators are damaged, the likelihood of a short circuit, sparks, and possibly a fire increases dramatically.

Grand Cherokee 4xes Are Subject To Recall, Too

In addition to the Wrangler, the Grand Cherokee 4xe has also been recalled. The affected model years range from 2022-2026, and the same issue applies: risk of separator damage. Stellantis, Jeep's parent company, issued a statement seemingly expanding the number of recalls from the original 2022-2024 model range to include 2026 Grand Cherokees and 2025 Wranglers. "A company review of customer data led to an internal investigation that discovered 19 fires," reads the statement.

"Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained," Jeep said. The automaker says a remedy is "imminent," but there isn't one just yet. The automaker says owners will be notified when they can schedule service to fix the issue, and can call customer care at 1-800-853-1403 or visit recalls.mopar.com for more information.