The 2021 – 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV), uses a 400-volt lithium-ion battery for its high-voltage circuits. The Planet Dodge specification explains how this reaches full capacity in two hours on fast charge. Although it is also possible to slow-charge the high-voltage battery overnight, using the 120-volt charger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Jeep Wrangler hybrid battery recall on November 22, 2023.
Why This Jeep Wrangler Hybrid Battery Recall Now?
The NHTSA notice (see link below) explains how a small number of 2021 – 2023 Jeep Wrangler PHEV’s have failure-prone high voltage batteries. The root cause for this is apparently unknown at this moment. However, a vehicle fire can result in an increased risk of occupant injury, NHTSA adds. And also injury to persons outside the vehicle, as well as consequential property damage.
The danger of a 2021 – 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe plug-in hybrid causing a battery fire (with the ignition turned on or off) surfaced on September 18, 2020. This chance gradually grew through to March 22, 2023, when use of the particular Samsung battery-type ended.
- FCA US LLC, formerly Chrysler Corporation received two reports of battery fires on May 12, 2023, and requested buybacks.
- The manufacturer received five further reports of Jeep Wrangler hybrid battery fires through to September 2023.
- By October 2023, FCA US LLC had disassembled two of the seven defective batteries, but was still analyzing the remainder.
- On November 16, 2023 the manufacturer implemented a voluntary recall of over 32,000 vehicles, despite there being no injuries or accidents reported.
An Insider View of a Manufacturer Recall
It can’t be a pleasant experience being involved in a recall like this. A vehicle owner explained the process in Digital Trends on December 3, 2023. The owner received this message, “Customers are advised to refrain from recharging these vehicles, and not to park them inside of buildings or structures…”
I live in a city and don’t actually have the choice to park outside of a garage and away from structures, the hybrid vehicle owner explained. So, let’s hope the software is available soon, and I can get in for the fix. Although the Jeep Wrangler hybrid battery is relatively small, it does make a big difference in overall fuel economy, for shorter, city-centric driving purposes.
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Preview Image: Jeep Wrangler 2.0 4xe
