Jeep 4xe Battery Fire Recall: Checking a Used Wrangler or Grand Cherokee PHEV

Almost every used Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe on the market is covered by a high-voltage battery fire recall, and a "remedy completed" note from 2024 does not settle it, because the November 2025 expansion pulled previously repaired Jeeps back in. Before you buy one, run the VIN for campaign 25V-741, find out whether the current remedy has been done, and do not charge the car in your garage until it has.

I know that sounds dramatic for a plug-in hybrid that might look perfect on the lot. But the paperwork history on these Jeeps is messy, and a seller who says "the recall was done" may be telling the truth about an older fix that the automaker later called ineffective.

Three recalls, one battery problem

The short version is that Chrysler (FCA US) has recalled the same plug-in battery issue more than once. Car and Driver reported that an earlier recall in late 2023 covered roughly 32,000 Wrangler 4xe models after eight fires, six of which happened while the vehicles were plugged in. Then in October 2024, NHTSA announced recall 24V-720 for 154,000-plus vehicles: 118,230 model year 2020-2024 Wrangler PHEVs and 35,802 model year 2022-2024 Grand Cherokee PHEVs. The fix then was a battery pack control module software update plus an inspection, with a battery replacement if needed.

That did not hold. On November 4, 2025, NHTSA announced 25V-741, a new recall for 320,065 vehicles: 228,221 model year 2020-2025 Wranglers and 91,844 model year 2022-2026 Grand Cherokees. The agency said Chrysler knew of 19 fires starting in the battery pack, nine of them in vehicles that had already received the earlier software remedy, and that the previous fix was ineffective at catching certain battery abnormalities. The Part 573 report blames cells that may have separator damage.

Why "recall done" can still mean open

This is the trap for used buyers. A 2022 Wrangler 4xe can have a dealer receipt for the 2024 battery software flash and still be open under 25V-741. NHTSA's notice told owners who had already had a remedy performed to check whether their vehicle is in the new recall and follow its instructions. So the receipt alone tells you very little. What you need is the current status of 25V-741 for that exact VIN.

When the expansion was announced, NHTSA said a remedy was not yet available and owners should keep parking outside and stop charging until one was performed. The Part 573 report filed for 25V-741 listed the remedy as under development. Remedy status can change after a filing, so look it up live for the VIN you are buying, today, rather than trusting a forum post or an old printout. Our Jeep recall check by VIN post shows where to look.

What the interim instructions mean for you

Until the current remedy is done, the official instruction is blunt: park outside, away from structures and other vehicles, and do not charge it. NHTSA's reasoning is that the fire risk is higher when the battery is charged. Think about what that does to the reason you wanted a 4xe in the first place. You would be buying a plug-in hybrid you are told not to plug in, and you may not be able to park it in your own garage. If you live in an apartment with only covered parking, that is a real problem, not a footnote.

I would also ask the seller where the car has been parked and charged. A seller who has been charging it overnight in an attached garage since the notice went out is a seller who did not read the mail, and that tells you something about the rest of the maintenance too.

Warning signs on a test drive

FCA's April 2026 technical service bulletin on high-voltage battery pack replacement, filed under a warranty extension, gives a useful list of symptoms. It applies when the malfunction light is on and the car stores certain battery codes, including P0DAB-00 for cell balancing, P0BBE-00 for pack voltage variation and P1C5E-00 for battery state of health. The bulletin also says owners may see a "Service Charging System" message with charging blocked.

• Check-engine light on, or a recently cleared code history. Ask a shop to scan it, and ask whether codes were erased right before the sale.
• A "Service Charging System" message, or the car refusing to charge.
• Electric-only range far below what similar 4xe models show.
• No service records at all for the high-voltage system, on a vehicle with three recalls against it.

Our used plug-in hybrid buying checklist covers the general battery checks. For model-specific wear points, see the used Jeep Wrangler buying guide.

Fire history and the report

If one of these Jeeps already burned and was repaired, you want to know. A history report can show a fire-related insurance loss or a title brand, and our post on fire damage titles on CARFAX explains how that tends to look. A report will not tell you the remedy status for 25V-741, though; that comes from the recall lookup and the dealer.

CarVins resells CARFAX and AutoCheck reports under license. We are not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian, and we do not offer free full reports. Expect to pay a few dollars on our side versus a much higher retail price; the exact number moves around, so confirm at checkout. I would pull one on any 4xe priced well under the market, because a cheap plug-in Jeep in late 2026 usually has a story.

Sources

• NHTSA: Expanded Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler PHEV park outside recall (Nov. 2025)
• NHTSA: Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler PHEVs park outside (Oct. 2024)
• NHTSA: Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V-741
• FCA TSB 08-072-26 Rev. A: High voltage battery pack replacement (April 2026)
• Car and Driver: Jeep recalls 154K Wrangler, Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids