Stellantis recalls 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles worldwide over fire risk from steering pump defect

Stellantis has announced a worldwide recall of more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler SUVs and Gladiator pickup trucks because of a defect that could lead to vehicle fires. The recall affects models manufactured between 2021 and 2025 and follows an internal company investigation that identified a faulty electrical connection in the electric-hydraulic power steering pump wiring.

Scale of the recall

Approximately 1.08 million of the affected vehicles are in the United States, with 106,000 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico, and around 125,000 distributed across other global markets. In Portugal, 357 vehicles are covered by the campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing estimates that 0.1% of the recalled vehicles actually carry the defect.

What causes the fire risk

The problem originates from an electrical connection in the power steering pump that, in rare circumstances, can cause combustible materials to overheat. Stellantis stated that the overheating could potentially lead to a vehicle fire. The company discovered the issue during an internal investigation and has logged 72 reported incidents, with 35 of those confirmed to originate from the electrical fault.

In rare occasions, this could cause the overheating of combustible materials, with the consequent risk of vehicle fire.

Advice to owners

Until the repair is available, Stellantis is advising owners to park their vehicles away from buildings and other cars. The company expects a fix to be ready no later than July 2026. Once the remedy is available, dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair or replace the wiring harness or the electric hydraulic power steering pump at no cost to owners.

Reported incidents and injuries

Stellantis said it is aware of one injury potentially related to the defect. No crashes or fatalities have been reported in connection with the issue. The company has not disclosed the nature or severity of the injury.

A pattern of recent Jeep recalls

This recall adds to a series of safety actions involving Jeep models in recent months. A few weeks earlier, nearly 420,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles were recalled over a software issue that could delay side airbag deployment in a crash. In October 2025, an over-the-air software update caused sudden power loss for many Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid drivers. Shortly after, 320,065 Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe owners were told to stop charging and park away from buildings because of potential battery fire risks. Another recall in November 2025 addressed sand contamination inside the engine of both plug-in hybrid Jeep models, which could cause failure, power loss, or fire.

Stellantis discovered the problem during an internal investigation.

Stellantis, formed from the merger of Fiat-Chrysler and PSA, owns 14 brands including Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel. The automaker has been contending with declining sales and challenging investments.