Auto expert Mike Caudill responds to the Treasury Secretary’s claim that the future for electric vehicles in America is ‘very bright’ on ‘The Bottom Line’.
Jeep is recalling more than 320,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs in the US after discovering a potential fire risk linked to 19 incidents.
The recall affects certain 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models, which can catch fire even when the ignition is turned off.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the company is advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until a resolution is found,” Jeep parent company Stellantis said in a statement.
The automaker said the risk is lower if the battery is empty.
STELLANTIS IS REALLING MORE THAN 91,000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES Due To Possible Power Loss
A 2024 Jeep Wrangler at the Montreal Electric Vehicle Show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Friday, April 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Jeep launched an internal investigation after reviewing customer data and discovering 19 fires involving its plug-in hybrid models.
The recall also includes approximately 20,700 vehicles in Canada, 2,600 in Mexico and approximately 32,000 in other markets outside North America.
FDA expands recall of radioactive shrimp amid concerns about possible contamination
Jeep car showroom, building exterior with company brand name, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. (Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The latest recall comes about two months after Stellantis recalled more than 91,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee hybrids in the U.S. due to a software glitch that could lead to loss of propulsion power.
On some Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, model years 2022 through 2026, the battery pack control module microprocessor may be overloaded, causing it to reset. When this happens, the hybrid control processor may misinterpret the processor’s signals battery pack control module – possibly resulting in loss of propulsion power, the National Highway and Transportation Administration (NHTSA) noted.
Of the 91,787 potentially affected vehicles, only 1%, or about 918, are believed to have the defect, according to the NHTSA website.
About 780,000 pressure washers recalled after reported explosions and injuries
A 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) navigates an obstacle course at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in New York, USA. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Similar vehicles not included in this recall do not have a hybrid control processor or, according to NHTSA, were built after the affected time frame.
In a similar announcement earlier this year, NHTSA said Stellantis is recalling more than 63,000 Jeep Cherokees, covering model years 2017 through 2019, due to problems with the vehicles’ power transmission units.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
In November, Stellantis announced it would indefinitely lay off more than 1,000 workers at its Jeep assembly plant in Ohio as the automaker significantly reduced its inventory levels to meet demand.
