Recall Alert: Jeep Cherokee Models Are Catching Fire
The Jeep Cherokee is one of the longest-running nameplates from the automaker. However, Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Chrysler, has just issued a recall for specific models of the midsize SUV. The Jeep Cherokee recall addresses instances of the vehicle catching fire and impacts multiple year models. This isn’t the first recall for the Jeep Cherokee SUV, and it’s also not the first for the SUV being suspectable to fires.
Jeep Cherokee recall impacts multiple model years
The Jeep Cherokee recall impacts a total of 219,000 vehicles worldwide that are prone to catching on fire. The impacted models are the 2014 through 2016 Jeep Cherokee, and owners are being instructed to park their vehicles outside and away from structures. This issue specifically affects Jeep Cherokee models that have the power liftgate.
The Jeep Cherokee fires result from an electrical short in the power liftgate. Unfortunately, fires could ignite with the car on or off, so it’s a bit of an unpredictable problem. This is actually the third recall since 2015 to address the fire issue with the Jeep Cherokee. However, owners who had their SUVs repaired under the previous recalls will still need to take action.
Currently, the automaker is working on the fix for the liftgate fires. It plans to send owners notification letters by June 30th for more concrete instructions regarding the fix. This worldwide issue impacts 132,000 SUVs in the US, 23,000 in Canada, 3,000 in Mexico, and about 60,000 outside of North America.
The Cherokee has problems
Besides the various Jeep Cherokee recall, it’s an overall unreliable vehicle. In particular, Vehicle History reports that the 2015 model, which the recall impacts, is especially bad. In addition, the midsize Jeep SUV has depreciated much faster than most of its closest rivals. Besides the ongoing maintenance issues, one of the biggest complaints is that so much of the interior of the SUV is made from plastic and is, therefore, not sturdy.
Some of the more serious problems with the 2015 Jeep Cherokee are oil leaks, transmission issues, and faulty cruise control systems. There are also reports of the engine stalling, the vehicle not starting, and problems with acceleration. These are all results of the throttle position sensor failing.
However, people should note that newer Jeep Cherokee model years have improved. Consumer Reports believes the 2023 edition will have average reliability. Hopefully, the current Jeep Cherokee recall goes smoothly and everyone takes the proper precautions.
