If the used Wrangler or Gladiator you are eyeing is a 2021-2025 model, check it for NHTSA recall 26V363 before anything else. Filed in June 2026, it covers just over a million Jeeps whose electro-hydraulic power steering pump can develop a bad electrical connection, overheat and start a fire, even with the vehicle parked and off. Until the repair is done, FCA tells owners to park outside and away from buildings. Run the VIN, and if the recall is open, make the seller get it fixed first.
This is a separate problem from the plug-in hybrid battery fires on the Wrangler 4xe, which we cover in our Jeep 4xe battery fire recall check. The steering pump recall is defined by build dates on regular Wranglers and Gladiators, so a truck without a plug is not off the hook.
What the recall covers
FCA's Part 573 report, FCA campaign 21D, lists 1,076,999 vehicles: 787,887 2021-2025 Wranglers built from June 24, 2020 through December 2, 2024, and 289,112 2021-2025 Gladiators built from August 18, 2020 through December 2, 2024. The part is the electro-hydraulic power steering pump, or EHPSP, from supplier Dare Auto. Per FCA, the electrical connection to the pump can develop high resistance, heat up and cause a fire. The report points to a connector header out of tolerance and terminals that can push out.
The numbers in the filing are worth knowing. FCA counted 72 field reports, 35 of them confirmed as starting at the pump, plus 63 customer assistance records. It knew of one injury and no crashes. NHTSA had opened a preliminary evaluation, PE24-024, back in September 2024 on 2021-2023 trucks, so this did not appear out of nowhere.
The chronology in the filing is a little unsettling if you own one. FCA's safety office first looked at these fires between May 2023 and April 2024 and closed the case because the rate was low. It reopened in August 2024 after more incidents came in. In 2025 it found the pump's connector header had been made out of tolerance, which can spread the terminals and keep the plug from seating fully. FCA also says it could not reproduce the failure on a bench, and it only confirmed in April 2026 that a loose connection will melt and could lead to a fire. FCA estimates about 0.1 percent of the trucks actually have the defect. Small odds, but the consequence is a burned Jeep, maybe next to a house.
The warning signs
FCA says a driver may notice a loss of power steering assist or a "Service Power Steering" message before anything worse happens. On a test drive, that is a reason to stop, not something to drive through. Heavy steering at parking lot speeds on a Wrangler is not normal, even with big tires. Our power steering pump check explains what else to listen for.
Where the fix stands in November 2026
NHTSA's acknowledgment says VINs were searchable starting June 11, 2026, with owner letters going out from July 9. The remedy is free: dealers inspect the pump connection and repair or replace it. FCA's schedule had dealers notified June 11 and owners notified between July 9 and August 3. By now most owners should have a letter, but a letter is not a repair, and parts timing on a recall this size is anybody's guess. Treat an open 26V363 on a truck you are about to buy as a real open item.
How to check a specific Jeep
- Run the 17-digit VIN at NHTSA's recall site. Look for 26V363 or FCA campaign 21D.
- If it shows open, ask the seller to book the dealer visit before you pay. A franchised dealer may be limited in selling it with the recall open; see dealer rules on open recalls.
- If it shows closed, ask for the repair order. NHTSA's tool only lists unrepaired recalls, so a finished one simply disappears. Our recall completion guide shows how to get proof.
- Pop the hood and look around the pump area for melted plastic, scorched wiring, or new-looking connectors with no paperwork to explain them.
- Check the history report for fire claims or a total loss, and see fire damage title brands for what that can mean.
For a broader recall run on the same truck, our Jeep recall check by VIN covers the other open campaigns that have hit these years. The used Wrangler buying guide and used Gladiator buying guide have the rest.
Does an open recall kill the deal?
Not by itself. A repaired truck is a repaired truck. The issue is the window between purchase and repair, when FCA's advice is to park away from structures. If you live in an apartment with a parking garage, or plan to keep it in an attached garage, that is a real problem for weeks or longer. Autoweek's June 2026 coverage repeated the park-outside advice for the same reason.
On a private sale, the cleanest move is to make the dealer appointment part of the deal: the seller takes it in, you get the repair order, then money changes hands. On a dealer lot, ask them to do the inspection before delivery. The repair is free either way, so there is no good reason for anyone to skip it.
About history reports and pricing
CarVins sells official CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller, independent of CARFAX, AutoCheck and Experian. Per Edmunds' June 2026 numbers, going direct costs $44.99 per CARFAX report and $29.99 per AutoCheck report. We sell for less, but confirm at checkout since our prices move. The report will not settle the recall question for you; it can show fire claims, salvage brands and dealer service visits that hint at whether the pump was touched.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Log in to leave a comment.