2023 Jeep Wrangler

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 9 Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire (VOQ) reports, 1 Death and Injury report, and multiple field reports alleging incidents of engine compartment fires in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The majority of the reports describe a fire occurring while the ignition in the vehicle was in an ‘OFF’ state with a suspected origin at the passenger front side of the engine compartment. An ignition ‘OFF’ vehicle fire can result in an increased risk of occupant injury, injury to persons outside the vehicle, and property damage, with little to no warning. ODI has contacted the vehicle manufacturer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and learned of several thermal events originating at the power steering pump electrical connector in recent model year Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The location of the pump connector is located at the passenger front side of the engine compartment, coinciding with the majority of fire reports known to ODI. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the cause, scope, and frequency of the alleged defect. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Numbers document, go to NHTSA.gov.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 68 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports for model years (MY) 2021 through 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles alleging a loss of motive power. Recall 22V-865 was issued by the manufacturer to address an engine shutdown condition in certain MY 2021-2023 Wrangler 4xe vehicles. The complaints noted here contain both post recall remedy failures and failures in vehicles not included within the scope of 22V-865. An analysis comparing complaints received before the issuance of recall 22V-865 and complaints outside the scope of the recall has been conducted. The results show the current complaint rate is higher in the out of scope vehicles than it was for vehicles that were later covered by the recall. ODI is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to assess the severity of the alleged defect in vehicles not included in recall 22V-865.ODI will also assess the scope and remedy effectiveness of the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

My 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe High Altitude received FCA Recall 68C. Since the recall was completed, the vehicle has experienced repeated and unpredictable reductions in available propulsion during normal driving. The problem is most noticeable when accelerating to merge onto highways, enter traffic, or pass slower vehicles. During these situations, I depress the accelerator expecting normal acceleration, but the vehicle frequently provides significantly reduced power. There is a noticeable delay before the gasoline engine produces sufficient propulsion, leaving the vehicle unable to accelerate as expected for several seconds. Based on my experience, the condition is significantly worse during hot weather. As outside temperatures increase, the hesitation and reduction in available propulsion appear to occur more frequently and are more pronounced. This has caused me to lose confidence in the vehicle's ability to accelerate when needed. This condition creates a serious safety hazard because surrounding traffic continues at highway speeds while my vehicle is unable to accelerate as commanded. In [XXX], this hazard is particularly acute because many interstate and highway entrance ramps are relatively short, requiring drivers to accelerate quickly to merge safely into traffic traveling at highway speeds. When the vehicle unexpectedly limits propulsion or delays engaging the gasoline engine, there may not be sufficient distance to reach the speed necessary to merge safely, increasing the risk of a collision. The same issue also affects attempts to pass slower vehicles on two-lane highways, where timely acceleration is essential for safe operation. The vehicle does not display diagnostic trouble codes or warning messages when this occurs. Because no diagnostic codes are stored, I have not taken the vehicle to the dealer, as other owners have reported that dealerships are unable to identify or repair the condition in the absence of fault codes. The lack of diagnostic codes INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF IN

NHTSA ID

11755207

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

Supplemental Safety Complaint — Post-68C Recall Throttle Non-Response and Loss of Drive Power — Case 11753417. Supplemental incident report referencing prior NHTSA complaint case number 11753417. August 2, 2026. 75°F ambient temperature, low humidity. Vehicle operated normal for approximately 15 electric miles at 40-55 mph, then with 7 miles remaining EV range, electric drive mode exhibited violent, random transitions to ICE engagement. Critical safety concern: pressing accelerator produced zero throttle response for 1-2 seconds during transitions at several intervals. Driver (spouse) felt unsafe. **This incident demonstrates the post-68C software behavior is triggered by both thermal conditions AND low battery state of charge — not temperature alone as previously documented. A throttle dead zone of 1-2 seconds during normal driving constitutes an unreasonable safety risk under federal standards, particularly during merging and intersection navigation. Requesting NHTSA investigate whether the 68C recall remedy introduced unaddressed safety defects affecting throttle response across the 4xe population.

NHTSA ID

11754319

Incident

Aug 2, 2026

After Recall 68C was performed, the vehicle lost meaningful electric-only operation. This is not FORM. The gasoline engine now intervenes during routine Electric-mode driving with adequate charge. The dealer/manufacturer has not restored the vehicle’s advertised PHEV functionality. Visited dealer to document, and dealer did not charge vehicle and test to see. They instead scanned for codes and said no codes returned.

NHTSA ID

11754234

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

Following the 68C recall remedy, my vehicle's electric drive mode exhibits intermittent and unsafe power loss during normal operation. Symptoms include sudden RPM spikes, abrupt ICE engagement, loss of drive power with a delay before the gas engine catches, and electric mode becoming temporarily unavailable — occurring unpredictably during stop-and-go traffic, merging, and intersection navigation. I have documented a consistent thermal threshold trigger: symptoms reliably emerge after 10-20 minutes of electric mode operation in ambient temperatures above approximately 80°F, and onset is faster when the battery is warm from prior use. No fault codes are generated because the power limiting appears to be intentional software behavior implemented via the 68C recall remedy — not a malfunction. As a result, dealers scan the vehicle, find no codes, and characterize the behavior as normal operation. Stellantis marketed this vehicle on its electric drive capability. Following the 68C recall, a software update appears to have throttled that capability to protect the battery pack from thermal overload — likely because the cooling system cannot maintain safe battery temperatures under sustained electric load. Jeep now calls this reduced capability "normal operation," effectively de-featuring the vehicle via recall remedy while introducing a new safety risk: unexpected power loss during merging and intersection navigation with a dangerous delay before ICE engagement. I have an open FCA Customer Care case on this issue. The dealer has declined to road-test the vehicle until symptoms are actively occurring. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether the 68C recall remedy introduced an unaddressed safety defect affecting all 4xe vehicles in this population. Videos of symptoms available via YouTube: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753417

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

On numerous instances now, while travelling at highway speeds a small bump or uneven surface will cause the vehicle to experience the "Jeep Death Wobble" and will violently shake the entire vehicle out of control unless a rapid deceleration and / or stoppage occurs. I have brought it to a dealer who indicates that they were not able to reproduce the "Shimmy" (they also were unable to perform my safety recalls spite have the vehicle for several days in a row). There is a clear shake, wobble, shimmy, or whatever that is easily reproducible at highway speeds of 50 mph or greater.

NHTSA ID

11751433

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

I leased this vehicle in April 2023. I have only put 23,000 miles on it and have only had it serviced by the dealership. Months after the start of my lease I experienced the Jeep Death Wobble at speeds in excess of 70 mph with my newborn son in the car. Never having even heard of it, I am extremely lucky that I maintained composure and did not crash. I took the car to the dealership who claimed they repaired in accordingly under my warranty. Since then the death wobble has returned 3 additional times for a total of 4 times in 3 years (the most recent being 6 months ago) with again only 23,000 miles on the car. Each time I have taken the car to the dealership and they have claimed to have repaired the issue. For the past 3 years, I have been plagued with sheer anxiety every time my vehicle goes over 55 mph, never knowing when the wobble will return but always assuming correctly that it will and it has. This is a known issue that I believe has not been able to be directly attributed to crashed because the outcome relies significantly on the drivers reaction to the problem. Had I not remained calm or made any sudden movements with my car each time that this happened, it easily could have been 4 crashes. Multiply that by how many people I know who have or are experiencing this issue and its crazy that Jeep is allowed to continue operating like this.

NHTSA ID

11749411

Incident

Jan 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11749028

Incident

May 1, 2026

My oil plug fell out of my jeep. Within minutes all of the oil had splattered underneath and the back of the jeep. The oil lamp went on in my jeep. From the time the oil warning came on to the seizure of the engine was a couple minutes. The jeep went into protection mode or would not allow me to go over 25 minutes. I saw the engine light come on and went straight to Mobil1, the closest place to get oil and they explained there was oil everywhere and no oil plug. I always got oil changes at the jeep dealership and they were the last to service. They were about to close so i tried to get an oil change. There also had been a slow leak in my driveway that i thought was just coolent but after taking a closer look, I believe it was an oil leak.

NHTSA ID

11748356

Incident

May 23, 2026

CORE – HEATER

CORE – HEATER

Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and Radio Compass Display has Dashes (--)

Fuel Delivery Module Before replacing the fuel module for DTCs P0461 and P062A and other not start, long crank, fuel gauge accuracy and drivability issues, the technician should disconnect the electrical connector at the pump and perform a visual inspection of the connector for and bent, spread, or pushed out terminals. Repair any issues found. Reconnect the plug and perform a push pull push to ensure the connector is fully installed. Then perform 3 keys cycles and listen to hear if the fuel pump is operational. If the fuel pump is heard that indicates that everything is operating correctly. If the pump is heard replacement is not necessary, any replacement will function in the same way.

THERMOSTAT – NONE.

THERMOSTAT – NONE.