Jeep Investigation Concluded After Fire Risk Findings
Federal regulators have closed their inquiry into fire risks affecting over 780,000 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Auto Parts
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has wrapped up a two-year investigation into underhood fire risks involving approximately 781,500 Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles produced between 2020 and 2024. Stellantis previously issued recalls covering more than 1.08 million vehicles from the 2021 to 2025 model years to address the concern.
Why it matters
This safety investigation directly addressed the potential for underhood fires in parked SUVs and trucks, which posed a significant property safety risk to owners. The inquiry prompted Stellantis to implement design-related corrections to mitigate these hazards.
The investigation covered 781,500 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles manufactured between June 24, 2020, and December 2, 2024. Stellantis has recalled over 1.08 million total vehicles to provide free repairs for the identified design mistake.
The players
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The federal agency tasked with reducing highway deaths, injuries, and property losses by enforcing vehicle safety standards.
Stellantis
The parent company of Jeep that manufactures the Wrangler and Gladiator and is responsible for administering safety recalls.
The details
The investigation focused on underhood fires that occurred while vehicles were parked, leading regulators to scrutinize the design of components within the engine bay. Jeep identified a specific design error as the root cause of these incidents and has provided free repairs to address the defect for affected owners. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will continue to monitor vehicle safety and model performance in the field following this conclusion.
Timeline
June 24, 2020: Earliest production date of affected vehicles.
Late 2024: The NHTSA opened the federal investigation.
December 2, 2024: Latest production date of affected vehicles.
October 5, 2026: The federal investigation officially concluded.
The Home Front
This resolution follows a long-standing federal pattern of using intensive oversight to mandate manufacturer-led safety repairs for widespread vehicle defects. The conclusion marks a transition from active investigation to the monitoring phase regarding these Jeep engine-bay hazards.
Owners of Wrangler or Gladiator models from 2021-2025 should verify if their specific VIN has been included in the recall by using the official NHTSA website. If your vehicle is part of the affected group, contact a local Jeep dealer to schedule your free design-related repair.
The takeaway
Vehicle safety investigations frequently result in long-term monitoring by regulators to ensure design corrections remain effective. Keep your current recall status documentation on file and monitor your vehicle for any notices from Jeep regarding safety updates.
Further reading
Learn more about maintenance and safety standards in the Auto Parts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SlashGear.
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