Stellantis faces a lawsuit over alleged 4xe battery defects, as recalls and model cancellations increase scrutiny of its plug-in hybrids
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Jeep 4xe models face lawsuit over battery fire risks.
Earlier recalls failed to fully resolve the battery defect.
FCA previously told owners not to park near buildings.
For several years, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe was the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the United States, prompting the brand to also start offering the Grand Cherokee in 4xe guise. However, following a spate of recalls and shifting buyer sentiment, Jeep unexpectedly discontinued both models last month.
It now faces another challenge. A class action lawsuit filed against FCA US in the US District Court for the District of Utah alleges that the batteries used in Jeep’s 4xe models are “dangerous.”
Read: Thousands Of Jeep Plug-in Hybrids Could Suddenly Lose Power While Driving
The suit claims the 17 kWh high-voltage battery pack sourced from Samsung contains internal defects that can cause overheating and thermal runaway. Several Jeep 4xe models have reportedly caught fire as a result. According to the complaint, the batteries suffer from “separator damage,” and the plaintiffs argue that FCA has not done enough to properly address the issue.
A Recall Under Scrutiny
The class action also takes issue with previous recalls announced by Jeep, asserting that they failed to fix the defect. The plaintiffs are also upset that Jeep told them not to charge their vehicles due to the fire risk and to park away from structures while waiting for a repair, according to the lawsuit.
A Fix That Didn’t Work
“FCA still claims to be unaware of the root cause of the HV Battery defect other than vague statements regarding separator damage,” the lawsuit states. “FCA again admitted that the previous remedy offered in the 2024 recall was ineffective and failed to fix the defect present in the HV Batteries of the Class Vehicles.”
For certain vehicles covered by the lawsuit, FCA has provided two separate repair attempts since 2023, but neither has successfully corrected the defect, the complaint alleges.
The lawsuit further claims that FCA delayed a recall of 2024 Jeep 4xe models to save money, despite knowing of the risks posed by the batteries.
At least three recalls were issued for Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe models in the closing months of 2025. Not only were the models recalled for battery problems, but in November, the vehicles were also recalled because the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines could be contaminated with sand from the casting process.
