Even with the engine turned off, a fire hazard has prompted Jeep to recall over one million vehicles.
Save
See All 12 Photos 12
When the average person imagines a Jeep, they envision a rugged off-road SUV conquering locations such as Johnson Valley, California, and Moab, Utah. However, recalls eventually affect nearly every vehicle, and a new one involving 2021–2025 JL Wranglers and JT Gladiators is both large and significant: Owners of these vehicles are being instructed to park their Jeep outdoors, as there is a possibility they could ignite even with the key removed and the engine shut down.
0:00 / 0:00
Which Jeeps Are Impacted?
This recall and advisory covers every version of the JT and JL sold with all engine and transmission options. From the 2.2-liter turbodiesel available in international markets to the Wrangler 392 featuring its Hemi V-8 in the United States, all are included in this recall. It also applies to Wranglers and Gladiators in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive configurations. In total, 1,076,999 Jeep owners are being advised to park outside. However, since the Gladiator sells at a slightly slower pace than the Wrangler, the JL bears the majority of the advisory, with 787,887 vehicles impacted.
The positive news is that any Jeep Gladiator or Wrangler with a production date after December 2, 2024, is considered safe, as the flaw was identified and fixed. Jeep Wranglers built before June 24, 2020, and Gladiators built before August 18, 2020, utilize a different component that did not have the defect.
See All 12 Photos 12
It Catches Fire With the Engine Off?
What makes this situation unusual is that the recall and fire risk are linked to the electrohydraulic power steering pump. This system is deactivated when the key is in the off position, which one might assume would be sufficient to prevent a fire.
However, the electrical connection between the wiring harness and the circuit board produces high resistance. This was caused by the connector header of the circuit board being manufactured out of specification and being too loose. That looseness leads to an increase in resistance that can generate enough heat to melt the connector and, given that power steering fluid can ignite when heated sufficiently, result in a catastrophic fire for your JT or JL.
Even when the vehicle is turned off, there remains the possibility that the plastic and metal could retain enough residual heat, or that the plastic could be smoldering enough, to cause the fluid to catch fire with the engine off and the key out of the ignition.