NHTSA Probes 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Over Fire Risk

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into basically every Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator from the 2021-2023 model years. The probe is looking into an estimated 781,459 vehicles over presumed electrical faults that could be causing fires. While nothing has been confirmed as of yet, it makes sense why the company is so adamant about how its upcoming Wagoneer EV will be of “perfect quality.”

Following numerous field reports and at nine Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire (VOQ) reports pertaining to engine compartment fires, the NHTSA has decided to investigate the matter. The reason that the issue is assumed to stem from an electrical issue is that a majority of the claims stipulate that the fires started when the engine wasn’t running.

Right now, the agency just wants to get a handle on the scope of the problem to see if these are unrelated incidents or potentially the result of a shared defect. But the automaker has some leads already. Jeep has stated that it’s aware of several fires starting at the power steering pump electrical connector — which tracks where the majority of the fires appear to stem from within the engine compartment.

With there likewise being a death and injury report connected to the matter, the NHTSA cannot ignore the issue and will presumably ramp up the investigation. We’re technically in the “preliminary evaluation” phase of the process. But it’s looking like this will end up being a recall based on how things are progressing. The fact a number of these fires seemed to take place with incredibly low miles on them (a few under 2,000) would seem to suggest there is a factory defect.

Considering that the fires seem to be happening with little to no warning, and also when the vehicle is shut off, any owners of a 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator model is probably wise to park it outside and away from anything important. If a formal recall takes place, that’ll be the first thing owners will be advised to do anyway.

Your author would also recommend installing a fire extinguisher somewhere you can get access to inside the vehicle. Although, that’s something I’d recommend all responsible vehicle owners do. Just make sure it’s rated for the kind of fires vehicles might encounter. Some extinguishers also leave a chemical residue that can damage certain engine components. But something is better than nothing when the alternative is your entire vehicle going up in flames.

Getting back to the investigation, the NHTSA has said it is in contact with Stellantis with the automaker saying it’s cooperating with the investigation. In addition to the suspected water pump, the probe likewise seems concerned with the electrical connections at the power steering pump. The assumed starting point for most fires would coincide with either.

While the 2024 Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler are technically the same generation as the units under the microscope, they’ve been refreshed and it’s unclear whether changes made have left them in a better position than older models. Odds are decent that they’ll be placed under some enhanced scrutiny. But they’re unlikely to become part of the investigation unless they likewise begin to produce fire reports.

Regardless, Stellantis products have seen a decent number of recalls pertaining to electrical issues of late and presumably keen to nip this in the bud. Chrysler was confronting issues with the Pacifica Hybrid’s battery pack (representing a fire risk) and Ram was forced to recall over 1.2 million examples of the 1500 pickup due to software issues that messed with stability control — and that’s just within the last month or so.

[Images: Stellantis]

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