NHTSA checks 781,000 newer Jeep vehicles for fire

A US auto safety agency said Monday it is opening an investigation into more than 781,000 newer Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator sport utility vehicles after reports of fires under the hood.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has nine reports of fires and one injury under investigation covering the 2021 to 2023 model year Wrangler and Gladiator SUVs, with most of the reports saying the fires occurred while the ignition was off.

Jeep maker Stellantis said it is cooperating with the preliminary review, the first step before NHTSA requests a recall.

NHTSA said it contacted Stellantis and learned of several fires originating from the power steering pump electrical connector in Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The agency said that part was located in the front passenger side of the engine compartment and coincided with most fire reports.

Some fires were reported shortly after the vehicles were purchased. The owner of a 2021 Jeep Wrangler in Rumson, New Jersey said it started smoking and within 10 minutes burst into flames. The owner told NHTSA “my daughter, the dogs and I were able to get out of the car, but it was very scary.”

Another owner in Arizona said a 2021 Jeep Wrangler with just 1,900 miles on it caught fire. The owner saw black smoke coming from the engine compartment and told NHTSA, “When I pulled over and got out of the vehicle it was on fire and within minutes the entire car was engulfed in flames and a total loss.”

An owner in Auburn, Washington told NHTSA a 2022 Gladiator after only 1,758 driven miles burned while parked near the owner’s home despite not being driven for about two weeks. “There were no warning symptoms and our Jeep app showed everything was normal the last time it was driven,” the owner said.

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