Stellantis Sued After NHTSA Investigation Finds Fire Risk in Jeep Vehicles

Stellantis is facing a lawsuit for fire risks in its vehicles following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports Detroit Free Press.

The automaker’s FCA US operating arm has received a complaint claiming a defect exists within the power steering pump electrical connector of certain 2021-23 gas-powered and hybrid Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. This defect can lead to fires, whether the vehicle is being driven or parked.

A lawsuit filed Nov. 7 included plaintiffs from Kentucky, California, Oregon, and Tennessee, and stated that these vehicles have been recalled in the past for other fire risks. The suit is seeking unspecified damages and a repair.

This comes after a probe that was launched into the issue by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation on Sept. 6. Filings from the agency detail under-hood fires occurring with the ignition off, as well as nine reported incidents that included one injury.

“There are a million ways this scenario could go wrong, and those left with affected Jeeps are potentially running out the clock,” Steve Berman, managing partner at Hagens Berman, one of the law firms involved in the case, said in a statement this week.