Recall of the Chrysler Battery
A risk of fire and other problems has been reported on the Chrysler (FCA) high-voltage (HV) battery. Cases have been reported of a may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving. This is linked to cells (from Samsung SDI) with potential separator damage. Both FCA and Samsung have issued recall notices, and owners may be entitled to compensation or other relief.
"FCA US LLC has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2020-2025 model year Jeep Wrangler and 2022-2026 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
The High Voltage (HV) battery in your vehicle may become damaged, during normal vehicle operation, which could lead to a vehicle fire. A vehicle fire can result in increased risk of occupant injury and injury to persons outside the vehicle.Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, FCA US is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained."
FCA US LLC will repair your vehicle free of charge (parts and labor). To do this, your dealer will perform a software flash followed by a HV battery replacement, if needed. FCA US will also be providing a Warranty Extension for the high voltage battery... The estimated repair time for software update is two hours. More time will be required if HV battery replacement is needed
Samsung SDI recalls 180,000 high voltage battery packs because of risk of failure leading to fires
Samsung SDI is recalling 180,000 high-voltage battery packs installed in certain Chrysler, Volkswagen, Audi, and Ford vehicles in North America following an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The battery can fail increasing the risk of a fire and loss of power increasing the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA documents. Another document says the battery packs have been subject to 573 reports. While the root cause of the issue remains under investigation, Ford's recall notes that variability in the battery cell supplier's production may result in the cell's cathode inducing micro-defect and/or local stresses in the cell's separator layer, according to the document. Excerpted from www.repairerdrivennews.com/2025/02/11/samsung-sdi-recalls-180000-high-voltage-battery-packs-because-of-risk-of-failure-leading-to-fires/
Chrysler notified Samsung SDI of two fires in Jeep Wrangler PHEV vehicle battery packs in May 2023. The OEM was later notified in October 2023 of another five fires, NHTSA documents say. It says that a month later the OEM notified Samsung SDI again regarding eight more field reports. Audi notified the company in August 2023 of four battery pack fires involving vehicles outside the U.S., according to NHTSA. Audi issued a recall for its Q5 and A7 plug-in hybrids after receiving additional non-U.S. reports, NHTSA documents state. Samsung was notified by Ford in May and August 2024 regarding three reports from Europe describing battery thermal venting, the NHTSA documents say. Ford issued a recall on 16,048 Escape PHEVs and 4,004 Lincoln Corsair PHEVs in December 2024.
Stellantis issued a statement to Green Car Reports last week saying that its remedy for the Jeep includes a software update and, if necessary, a replacement of the high-voltage battery. NHTSA suggests vehicle owners contact their OEMs with any questions at 1-800-853-1403 (Chrysler), 1-800-253-2834 (Volkswagen), and 1-866-436-7332 (Ford). Vehicle owners may also contact the NHTSA safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
Problems with the Jeep Battery Recall
The recalls have been criticized for their ineffectiveness. Stellantis has primarily relied on software updates rather than replacing the defective battery packs, which has not fully resolved the issue. Owners have been advised not to charge their vehicles or use them in electric mode, effectively negating the primary purpose of owning a plug-in hybrid vehicle. This has caused significant inconvenience and economic harm to consumers, including diminished resale values and ongoing loan payments for vehicles that cannot be used as intended. Recalls have evolved due to the ongoing nature of the defect:
- Initial responses involved BPCM software flashes (e.g., TSB 08-009-25) and inspections.
- Later remedies include HV battery pack replacement (under TSBs like 08-072-26) for vehicles showing specific DTCs, plus warranty extensions.
- Owners have been instructed to park outdoors away from structures/vehicles and avoid charging until fixed, as fire risk increases with higher state-of-charge. This severely impacts the vehicle's PHEV value proposition.
Legal Claims: Breach of Warranty
Warranties typically cover defects in materials/workmanship for the HV battery and hybrid system for a set period/mileage. Failures like separator damage or persistent DTCs/charging issues can constitute breach of express warranty if repairs fail to resolve the problem after reasonable attempts. The Implied warranty of merchantability (under the UCC) requires vehicles to be fit for ordinary use. A PHEV prone to fires, power loss, or non-functional electric mode arguably breaches this, especially given safety recalls.Class actions and lemon law claims (state-specific, often overlapping with Magnuson-Moss) have been filed or pursued for Jeep 4xe battery/hybrid defects, seeking buybacks, replacements, or refunds. Document all repairs, communications, and impacts. Consult a lemon law or consumer attorney, as many offer free consultations and work on contingency. State lemon laws may provide additional presumptions (e.g., 4+ repair attempts or 30+ days out of service).
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Claims for Breach of Warranty
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