- This latest lawsuit includes the Wrangler and Gladiator, while also naming the Grand Cherokee.
- More than 780,000 Jeeps are subject to an ongoing NHTSA investigation over underhood fires.
- The plaintiff in this case claims he’s been forced to park his Wrangler at an airport for $26 daily.
Jeep is once again in hot water—this time, quite literally. A new class action lawsuit has been filed against its parent company, FCA US (yes, they still use that name), alleging that certain Jeep models are prone to catching fire due to a faulty electrical connector at the power steering pump. The issue, which has already caused plenty of headaches for the automaker, is now heating up further as one determined plaintiff has demanded a jury trial.
Read: Jeep Owners Sue Stellantis Over Wranglers And Gladiators That Might Spontaneously Catch Fire
The lawsuit, filed by Stan Paris in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division, claims that certain 2020-2024 Jeep Wrangler, 2021-2023 Jeep Gladiator, and 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee models were defective straight off the assembly line. It aims to represent all U.S. owners and lessees of the affected vehicles.
A Fiery Problem Under Investigation
Back in September last year, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) launched an investigation into reports of underhood fires. According to the claims, certain Jeep models had a tendency to burst into flames—even when the engine and ignition were switched off—due to a faulty electrical connector at the power steering pump.
In November, a separate lawsuit related to the fault was filed in Michigan. However, whereas the investigation and this recall were limited to the Wrangler and Gladiator, this new class action also includes the Grand Cherokee.
This latest recall says FCA US is aware of at least nine complaints of engine fires, including one that caused injury. Owners and lessees were advised to not park near other vehicles and structures, with the lawsuit noting that class members may not have purchased or leased their vehicles had they known about the fire risk.
Stan Paris, the plaintiff in this case, bought a used 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe in mid-July 2024. While his Wrangler hasn’t yet gone up in flames, the fear of it happening has been costly, as he claims he’s had no choice but to park the vehicle in an outdoor airport lot at $26 per day to avoid potential fire damage to other property.
The lawsuit accuses FCA US (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Jeep’s parent company) of violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, breaching the Implied Warranty of Merchantability under Pennsylvania and Arizona law, and benefitting from Unjust Enrichment at the expense of owners and lessees.
