It’s claimed that Stellantis hasn’t done enough to address battery issues. Roughly 320,000 Jeep models were recalled as recently as last November. Jeep’s 4xe models are at risk of catching fire even when the ignition is off. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe ranked as one of the best-selling plug-in hybrids in America right up until Stellantis pulled the plug late last year. Multiple lawsuits allege that success came with a hidden tax: battery packs that were defective and, in some cases, dangerous. A new class action filed in the US District Court in Detroit adds to the pile. The complaint focuses on the lithium-ion packs supplied by Samsung for both the Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe models. Plaintiffs argue the cells are defective, that Stellantis downplayed the severity, and that recalls and remedies arrived too slowly to matter. The suit goes further still, claiming Stellantis chose to discontinue the 4xe lineup last year rather than do the engineering work to fix what was wrong with it. Read: Thousands Of Jeep Plug-in Hybrids Could Suddenly Lose Power While Driving The two Jeep plug-ins have been pulled back for battery problems more than once. The most damning came in November, when a recall identified separator damage inside the cells that raised the risk of thermal runaway and fire. Roughly 320,000 Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe models were impacted by this recall, and as Jeep developed a fix, owners were instructed to park their vehicles away from garages, carports, and and anything else that might burn. Widespread Issues The Detroit filing lists 16 plaintiffs and seeks damages plus attorneys’ fees for the battery defects and what the suit characterizes as Jeep’s inadequate response. The Detroit Free Press first reported the details. This isn’t the first lawsuit filed against Stellantis this year over issues with the batteries in its 4xe models. In February, a separate class action was filed against the car manufacturer in Utah, alleging that Stellantis has violated several state and federal consumer laws, noting that vehicles can even catch fire when the ignition is off and when the vehicle is parked.
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