Jeep Cherokee Recalled for Liftgate-Related Fire Risk
People often ask about fire risk with electric vehicles, but the reality is that gas-powered models catch fire much more often. Jeep is taking extra precautions with more than 200,000 SUVs for fire risk, advising owners to park outside until it can issue a fix.
Jeep parent Stellantis is recalling 219,000 vehicles in total, around 132,000 of which are in the United States. The recall involves Jeep Cherokees from between 2014 and 2016 equipped with a power liftgate. A short in the system may cause a fire, even when the vehicle is off and parked.
Though we’re hearing about this now, this is the third action for the problem in the last eight years. The NHTSA said that vehicles already repaired under a previous recall will still need repairs, but there’s no word on the fix yet.
No accidents or injuries have been reported with the issue, but the problem can happen to any Cherokee model that has had water intrusion, a problem that Jeep said it fixed in late 2015. If you own an affected Cherokee, park it outside and away from structures or other vehicles until Jeep has a fix ready. The automaker will reimburse owners for any expenses incurred before and during the repairs and said that it will notify owners as soon as the remedy is ready.
[Image: Jeep/Stellantis]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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"...until Jeep has a fix ready"
This legal BS-speak has become a template for recalls. "Your vehicle has a serious safety defect, but we don't know how to fix it, or when the mystery fix will be ready."
Vehicles are being rushed to market with insufficient analysis and testing, then the lawyers step in to cover their tracks by pre-warning consumers about something the company can't even fix.
Grrr.
H/K has a similar recall for their 4 pin trailer wiring harnesses. The wiring *might* catch fire if water gets into a poorly sealed PCB which *could* create a short circuit. However there is no fix available so the current recommendation is to just park outside. The real fix, obviously, is to just remove the bad harness and install a good one. The hold up in this particular case is (I am willing to bet) is simply not enough inventory of replacement parts available to swap out. Of course this is of no help to you the owner if you waiting on the dealer.
I don't get power liftgates. Do people who have them, like them?
"People often ask about fire risk with electric vehicles, but the reality is that gas-powered models catch fire much more often."
"...due to electrical components".
Fixed that sentence for you. This recall has nothing to do with the fact these are powered by (superior) gasoline.