FCA US LLC has identified a potential issue affecting 199,143 plug-in hybrid vehicles under the Jeep brand due to an incorrectly programmed hybrid control processor.
This software error disables the windshield’s defrost system under specific conditions, leading to reduced outward visibility, which contravenes Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 571 mandating operational defrosting and defogging systems in new light-duty vehicles sold in the US.
Documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that the supplier responsible for the flawed software is FCA US LLC, the American arm of the Stellantis group, which also encompasses the French manufacturer PSA.
The recall affects specific models: the 2022 to 2024 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe with 59,825 units produced between July 23, 2021, and December 5, 2023, and the 2021 to 2024 model year Jeep Wrangler 4xe with 139,318 units assembled from September 2, 2020, to August 24, 2023.
Both the Grand Cherokee 4xe and Wrangler 4xe are plug-in hybrids equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, a traction motor within the ZF-supplied automatic transmission, and a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe offers a longer driving range of up to 26 miles (42 kilometers) and 56 MPGe, while the Wrangler 4xe provides a range of 22 miles (35 kilometers) and 49 MPGe, attributed to its lighter weight.
Chrysler was alerted to the potential issue with the defrosting/defogging system in June 2023, leading to an investigation lasting until January 2024, with the Vehicle Regulations Committee deciding on the recall in February 2024.
The remedy involves a software update for the hybrid control processor, with notification of the recall scheduled for April 5, 2024, to both dealers and owners. Owners can verify if their vehicles are affected by entering the 17-character vehicle identification number on the automaker’s or NHTSA’s website.
The Grand Cherokee, starting at $36,495 for the rear-drive Laredo A, remains the most popular Jeep in the US market, with 244,594 units delivered last year, while the Wrangler, starting at $31,995, sold 156,681 units. Additionally, 2024 marks the final year of production for the HEMI V8-powered Rubicon 392, boasting the same torque as the 4xe at 470 pound-feet or 637 Nm.
