Jeep Hybrid Battery Fire Warning Urges Owners To Park Vehicles Outside, Away From Structures

More than 300,000 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee hybrid vehicles are being recalled approximately one year after a similar defect led to a prior NHTSA warning and recall.

Owners of certain Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee SUVs are being advised to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings, due to a serious risk of fires that may result from a high-voltage battery defect.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee recall on November 3, noting that certain vehicles may contain battery packs with damaged separators.

Separators are thin safety barriers that keep the positive and negative sides of a battery apart. If a separator fails, the battery can short-circuit and overheat, increasing the risk of a fire that could spread and endanger people and property.

According to a NHTSA Consumer Alert, Jeep’s parent company, Chrysler is currently aware of 19 fires and one injury potentially connected to the defect.

The federal Safety Recall Report (PDF) states that Chrysler first became aware of the issue on July 3, 2025, after receiving reports of fires originating from the battery pack in vehicles that were either not included in a previous recall, or had already received the earlier recall repair.

As of October 13, investigators concluded that the issue was most likely caused by separator damage in combination with other complex interactions within the battery pack, although the root cause is still under investigation.

The manufacturer later determined that a safety risk exists and initiated a voluntary recall (PDF) of 320,065 vehicles, including certain:

• 2020 through 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe plug-in hybrid models
• 2022 through 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4Xe plug-in hybrid models

Drivers are advised not to charge the vehicle until a solution is provided, since vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. It is also recommended to park away from structures or other vehicles to limit potential property damage risks.

Owners should begin receiving interim notification letters on December 2 explaining the safety risk, with additional letters to follow once a final remedy is available.

Chrysler’s number for this recall is 68C. Customers may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403 or contact Chrysler’s contact for this recall, Emily Smith, who may be reached by email at emily.smith@dot.gov.

Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-275-9171), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Jeep Hybrid Battery Fire Risks

This is not the first time Chrysler Jeeps have faced fire-related issues. Last year, more than 154,000 hybrid SUVs were recalled due to battery fire risks linked to a similar separator damage problem.

In November 2024, a class-action lawsuit was filed against FCA US, the parent company of Chrysler, over fire risks affecting certain 2021 through 2023 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models.

Another lawsuit was filed in March 2024, alleging that Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were prone to catching fire and exploding. A year later, in March 2025, a man filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that certain hybrid Jeep Wranglers remained a fire risk despite multiple recalls intended to address the issue.

Sign up for more safety and legal news that could affect you or your family.