June 9 - Stellantis is expanding its safety actions in the United States with a recall affecting 1,076,999 vehicles tied to a power steering system defect, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday.
The regulator said wiring for an electric hydraulic power steering pump can overheat and, in some cases, potentially cause a vehicle fire. Importantly, the agency noted that the overheating and fire risk could occur even when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is switched off. The recall specifically covers certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator models.
As the prescribed remedy, dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any components found to be affected. Stellantis will carry out those inspections and necessary replacements at no cost to owners.
In a separate action, Stellantis announced a recall of 17,277 U.S. vehicles for a battery pack defect that the NHTSA said also could result in a fire, including under conditions when the vehicle is turned off. These two recalls follow a previous action last month in which the automaker recalled more than 419,000 vehicles due to concerns about the improper deployment of side airbags.
The remedies described for the power steering recall center on dealer-level inspection and replacement of components. The notices do not specify additional on-road restrictions for owners, but they do emphasize the possibility of ignition-independent fire risk in the affected systems.
The recall notifications and dealer remedies are framed around addressing immediate safety concerns. Vehicle owners of the identified Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator model years will be eligible for the free inspections and component replacements outlined by Stellantis.
What this means for industry participants
- Automotive manufacturers and suppliers will face operational demands to provide replacement parts and support dealer inspections.
- Dealer service networks will be responsible for executing inspections and repairs at no charge to vehicle owners.
- Regulatory and safety oversight remains active as recalls continue to be issued and remedial work proceeds.
The recall announcements provide specific vehicle counts and affected model ranges, and they direct owners to dealer-based remedies administered by Stellantis.