Jeep Wrangler 4xe has one other battery recall over hearth issues

America’s bestselling plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has one other battery recall on the books. Jeep simply posted recall “B9A” (aka Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration recall 23V-787) for the Wrangler 4xe, and it’s a doozy: the recall focuses on potential hearth threat with the 4xe’s 17.3kWh battery, and till it’s fastened, homeowners are inspired to cease charging their automobile and to park it exterior away from different autos:

“An internally failed HV battery may result in a automobile hearth with the ignition on or off. A automobile hearth can lead to elevated threat of occupant harm and/or harm to individuals exterior the automobile, in addition to property harm … Prospects are suggested to chorus from recharging these autos and to not park them within buildings or buildings, or close to different autos till the automobile has the ultimate restore accomplished.”

Stellantis (Jeep’s mum or dad) is conscious of eight situations of 4xe battery fires, six of which occurred whereas charging. Simply over 42,000 4xes are being recalled, largely within the U.S., although it’s anticipated that simply 1% have the potential fire-causing challenge. The repair is easy: New software program is loaded onto the automobile, and if a selected fault is found afterward, your entire battery will have to be changed.

You probably have a Wrangler 4xe, you possibly can verify to see in case your automobile is affected by getting into your VIN on the Jeep recall website. That’s solely the beginning, although: Jeep says within the recall discover that it doesn’t but have the software program distributed to sellers to repair it. You possibly can signal as much as be notified when it is prepared, however that’s not going to make homeowners really feel significantly better about driving a automobile they now know has a threat (irrespective of how small) of fireside related to it.

My very own 2022 Wrangler 4xe is among the many affected automobiles, and like many individuals, I reside in a metropolis and don’t even have the selection to park exterior of a storage and away from buildings. So, let’s hope the software program is out there quickly and I can get in for the repair. I gained’t be charging my automobile till then, which is an actual disgrace; although the 4xe’s battery is comparatively small, it makes a giant distinction in general gas financial system for shorter city-centric driving.

That is sadly not the primary recall for the 4xe’s battery system. Simply over a yr in the past, Jeep issued recall “Z71” centered on changing incorrect fasteners on the hybrid battery that would have brought on it to fail and the automobile to lose all energy whereas driving. That recall, which required a easy inspection and substitute provided that incorrect fasteners have been found, took over a month from after I was notified to after I may get it addressed.

If there’s an upside to be discovered right here, it’s that the earlier recall appears to have been addressed efficiently (together with alone automobile), and this week’s recall solely impacts some 4xes. Moreover, since Jeep has been utilizing the very same hybrid battery for the Wrangler 4xe for 4 mannequin years now, it’s a widely known system and Jeep presumably has a reasonably good deal with on it.

However that is one more instance of the rising pains related to our transition to PHEVs and EVs. Massive batteries can be harmful if not constructed and operated correctly, and even the most important automakers that construct tons of of 1000’s of them can encounter issues.

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