The law firm of Keller Rohrback says it’s “investigating allegations” that the Jeep brand misled customers about the capabilities of its 4xe plug-in hybrid models. The firm, according to The Drive, points to customer complaints that their green advantages are effectively neutered for months out of the year when the weather gets cold.
Specifically, the allegations surround the 2021-2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, both of which feature electric motors and moderately sized battery packs in order to allow them to use less fuel and, for short distances, drive on electric power alone.
Some owners, though, are complaining that their vehicles aren’t achieving the advertised fuel economy or any amount of electric driving in the winter. These claims are related to something called the “Fuel and Oil Refresh Mode” (FORM), which the law firm claims, is used to protect the engine in cold conditions, and ensure that it is within an acceptable operating window, by running the engine.
Read: Jeep Wrangler 4xe Engine Shut Down During Driving Linked To Two Accidents
Indeed, a look at forums and Reddit threads turns up a number of posters who complain that their 4xe vehicles are stuck in the mode. The trouble is, the owners claim, that the mode makes the engine run constantly, leaving them without the ability to drive on electric power alone.
We have reached out to Jeep for more information on the FORM mode and for a statement on the law firm’s investigation. Keller Rohrback, though, states that the allegations made in these complaints contend that Jeep “misled customers about the functionality of the vehicles’ electric capability, for which consumers paid a premium.”
Indeed, Jeep’s website shows that, that the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe model starts at $60,360, making it the second most expensive trim that the automaker offered in 2022. Similarly, the Wrangler 4xe starts at $54,735, making it the third most expensive trim in the range.
The good news is, though, that there may be a solution. Jeep community members have deduced that the FORM mode stays on until the engine oil has been at a temperature of more than 192 degrees F (88C) for 20 minutes. To aid with this, owners can purchase a grille cover from Mopar that helps warm the engine up faster.