Investigation into Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Fires

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. auto safety agency announced an investigation involving over 781,000 newer Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator SUVs due to reports of underhood fires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received nine reports of fires and one injury related to the investigation, which covers models from the 2021 to 2023 year. Most incidents indicate that the fires occurred while the ignition was off.

Stellantis, the manufacturer of Jeep, stated it is cooperating with the preliminary evaluation—this is the first step before NHTSA could potentially require a recall.

During its inquiry, NHTSA discovered that numerous fires were linked to the power steering pump electrical connector in the Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. This part is situated at the passenger front side of the engine compartment, aligning with the majority of fire reports.

Owner Experiences

Some fires occurred shortly after vehicle purchase. An owner of a 2021 Jeep Wrangler from Rumson, New Jersey, reported that the vehicle began smoking and within ten minutes was engulfed in flames. The owner recounted the terrifying experience of escaping the car with their daughter and dogs.

Another owner in Arizona experienced a fire in their 2021 Jeep Wrangler, which had only 1,900 miles on it. They observed black smoke coming from the engine and stated that by the time they pulled over, the vehicle was entirely on fire, resulting in the total loss of the car.

An owner from Auburn, Washington, reported that their 2022 Gladiator caught fire after only 1,758 miles driven, even though it had been parked for about two weeks. The owner noted no prior warning signs and that their Jeep app showed everything normal when last driven.