Stellantis is being sued over what is described as “spontaneous fire hazards” related to some of its popular Jeep SUVs and trucks.
A complaint filed against the automaker's U.S. FCA division alleges a defect exists in the power steering pump electrical connector that could cause fires in certain gasoline-powered and hybrid 2021-2023 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators when driven or parked to stand. .
It names specific claimants from Kentucky, California, Oregon and Tennessee, and says the vehicles have previously been recalled due to other fire risks.
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The lawsuit, filed Nov. 7 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, seeks unspecified damages and repairs, and follows an investigation into the matter by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of more than 781,000 Jeep vehicles.
Asked about the investigation and lawsuit, company spokesman Frank Matyok said: “We are cooperating with the NHTSA investigation.”
An NHTSA filing reports fires under the hood with the vehicles' ignition turned off and lists nine reported incidents, including one injury. The agency's Office of Defects Investigation opened its investigation on September 6.
Stellantis is facing a lawsuit and an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration following reports of fires in 2021-2023 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators.
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The lawsuit cites several complaints filed with NHTSA, including one from a Jeep owner in Rumson, New Jersey, regarding an incident in 2021. It says the 2021 Jeep's engine began smoking and within 10 minutes caught fire.
“The entire front was damaged/burned beyond repair and fire stations had to extinguish the fire. My daughter, dogs and I were able to get out of the car, but it was very scary,” the complaint said.
In addition to Jeep, Stellantis owns the Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands.
“If a friend has lent you their car, but has instructed you that because of the risk of spontaneous fire – even if parked and turned off – you should make sure you keep the car away from your home, property, other buildings or anything else flammable. It doesn't matter, you would be terrified to set foot near it,” Steve Berman, managing partner at Hagens Berman, one of the law firms involved in the case, said this week in a press release. “There are a million ways this scenario could go wrong, and those left with the affected Jeeps may run out.”
Free Press writer Jamie L. LaReau contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared in Detroit Free Press: Stellantis lawsuit over 'spontaneous fire hazard' in some Jeeps
