- The recall impacts 11,554 Jeep Gladiators and 21,309 Wranglers in the USA.
- Drivers may get distracted by the malfunctioning cluster, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The screen glitch has been on Jeep’s radar since reports came in on October 14, 2022.
Jeep has just announced a recall of over 32,000 Gladiator and Wrangler models in the United States because the central instrument panel screens could decide to take a spontaneous nap and go blank without any warning.
Turns out, the small 3.5-inch display in some models might decide not to show essential indicators—like the speedometer or warning lights—mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. You know, the stuff that’s kind of important while driving. Jeep says this could distract a driver and increase the risk of a crash without prior warning. It adds that once the screen becomes blank, it will remain inoperable and cannot be recovered. The cause? A good old-fashioned short circuit.
Read: 781,000 Jeeps Caught Up In NHTSA Investigation Over Underhood Fires
A total of 32,863 vehicles are impacted by the recall. These consist of 11,554 Jeep Gladiators from the 2020-2024 model years, manufactured from June 8, 2019, to May 18, 2024. The fault is more widespread across the Wrangler, with 21,309 examples from 2018-2024MY needing repairs, all of which were assembled from January 26, 2018, to May 17, 2024.
Jeep was first alerted to a potential issue on October 14, 2022, after reports of some screens going blank. Over the following 22 months, it conducted an analysis of failure patterns, warranty returns, and worked with supplier operations to determine which vehicles may experience a short circuit. Jeep stopped using the 3.5-inch display in the Gladiator on May 18, 2024, and in the Wrangler on May 17, 2024.
Dealerships will be alerted to the recall from September 12, while owners will be notified from October 3. The fix? A complete replacement of the instrument panel cluster with a new one featuring an upgraded printed circuit board that promises to rectify the problem. For those who’ve already shelled out their own cash to deal with this unexpected blackout feature, Jeep is offering reimbursements.
