Massive Recall: Jeep Warns 1 Million Owners to 'Park Outside' Amid Safety Scare!
Jeep has issued a major recall for over one million 2021-2025 Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, advising owners to park outside due to a fire risk, even with the engine off. The issue stems from a faulty electrohydraulic power steering pump connection that can overheat and ignite power steering fluid. This widespread recall impacts all configurations of the affected models.
Jeep has issued a significant recall affecting over one million Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, advising owners to park their Jeeps outside due to a persistent fire risk, even when the engine is off and the key is removed. This unusual safety advisory impacts a wide range of models, challenging the perception of these rugged off-road vehicles as 'bulletproof'.
The recall targets all versions of 2021-2025 JL Wranglers and JT Gladiators, encompassing every engine and transmission combination. This includes vehicles sold in international markets with the 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine, as well as the U.S. market's Wrangler 392 with its Hemi V-8. Both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive configurations are affected, bringing the total number of recalled vehicles to 1,076,999. The JL Wrangler bears the brunt of this advisory, with 787,887 units affected, as it outsells the Gladiator.
Owners can find some relief knowing that not all vehicles are at risk. Any Jeep Gladiator or Wrangler produced after December 2, 2024, is deemed safe, as the manufacturing defect was identified and corrected. Additionally, older models are exempt from this specific issue; Wranglers built before June 24, 2020, and Gladiators built before August 18, 2020, utilize a different, unaffected part.
The root cause of this alarming fire risk lies within the electrohydraulic power steering pump system. Despite the common assumption that turning off the engine and removing the key would de-energize such systems, a critical flaw exists in the electrical connection between the wiring harness and the circuit board. The connector header on the circuit board was manufactured out of tolerance, resulting in a loose connection. This looseness leads to an increase in electrical resistance, which can generate enough heat to melt the connector. Given that power steering fluid is flammable when sufficiently heated, this scenario can escalate into a catastrophic fire for the JT or JL, even hours after the vehicle has been parked and shut off, due to residual heat or smoldering plastic and metal igniting the fluid.