An element holding the 12-volt battery in place in a handful of Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrids may have been installed incorrectly, which could potentially lead them to short. If that happens, there’s a risk of a fire starting, whether or not the minivan is running. As a result, the automaker is launching a recall, and advising owners of the affected vehicles not to park near any structures.
Just 32 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrids are included in this recall action, and all are from the 2023 model year. The vehicles in question were assembled between July 7 and July 8, 2023, at Stellantis’ factory in Windsor, Canada.
The isolator posts in the Pacifica Plug-in Hybrids in question were installed in the incorrect location, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Chrysler does not explain how it became aware of the fault but says that on August 8, it launched an investigation into the issue.
Read: Chrysler Launches Yet Another Recall For Pacifica Hybrid, Which Could Catch Fire
The incorrectly installed part could result in a short to ground for the 12-volt battery’s positive circuit. In turn, that could lead to a vehicle fire, whether the ignition is on or off, and that’s bad for obvious reasons.
Although it is not clear what tipped Chrysler off to the problem, we know that it wasn’t a customer complaint, because it has not received any customer assistance records, warranty claims, or field reports. However, Chrysler says that owners shouldn’t park their Pacifica Plug-in Hybrids near homes or buildings to minimize the risk of a fire spreading until a recall fix can be accomplished.
That fix involves modifying the isolator to fit the anti-rotation stud correctly, which will be done by a technician at a dealership. The automaker plans to start reaching out to owners on December 29. If you want to find out if you own an affected vehicle, you can check using NHTSA’s VIN tool.
