Jeep just announced a recall of 63,000 Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids. Some drivers have had their power switch off unexpectedly, and two accidents and one injury have been reported. The recall applies to 2021 through 2023 Wrangler 4xe models. Since early November, Jeep said it has been aware of 112 customer assistance records, 196 warranty claims, 65 field reports, two accidents and one potential injury related to a software issue.
Why is Jeep recalling the Wrangler 4xe?
According to the provided documents, the unexpected power cut was due to a communication problem that caused the electronic system to take erroneous diagnostic actions. As early as September 2021, Jeep was aware of this problem. It then analyzed stall reports and combined vehicle history to determine the problem.
The fix was to update the code in the calibration software for the Transmission Control Module, Hybrid Control Processor, and Auxiliary Hybrid Control Processor. This software update has already been applied to 2023 Wrangler 4xe models, so they are not part of this recall. Parent company Stellantis said previous repairs related to the stall issue would be covered by the recall. Owners will need to show Jeep the repair receipt to recoup the cost of the repair.
Is this the first Jeep Wrangler 4xe recall?
This isn’t the first recall for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. In October, Jeep recalled 13,722 4x vehicles because the battery fuse was incorrectly connected. These 200 amp fuses can generate higher temperatures which can cause failure. The failure led to stalled issues similar to the most recent recall. There have been no reports of heat-related fires.
In late December 2021, another 4xe recall involved 2022 models. In an odd turn of events, 4xes built with digital instrument clusters can experience issues with the odometer. In some cases, the odometer will stop at 13,342 miles. The problem was first noticed on the Wrangler’s assembly line during software checks. A software update was made at that time. Right now, it appears 2,900 hybrid Jeeps still have the problem.
Jeep worries that owners will miss important maintenance notifications if the odometer doesn’t work. Certain components may fail if not properly maintained, which may cause various components to fail. The fix was to replace the instrument cluster. Jeep will reimburse owners who already paid for instrument cluster replacements.
When will the owner be notified?
So today’s latest recall is the third in the 4xe to affect electronic software. The hybrid Jeep debuted in September 2020. A class action lawsuit over these early software issues was filed in September 2021, according to classaction.org.
In January 2023, owners will receive a letter of notification. If they have any questions, they can contact Customer Service at 800-853-1403. They can also call the NHTSA Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, or visit the NHTSA website.
