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Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid Abrupt Shutdown While in Use Class Action

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is made by FCA US. The complaint for this class action alleges it has flawed electronic or computer systems that cause it to shut down without warning while it is in motion. According to the complaint, FCA has not warned customers, recalled the vehicles, or taken other steps to protect drivers and passengers from danger.

The class for this action is all individuals in the US who bought or leased a Jeep Wrangler 4xe.

Aaron Kappler, the plaintiff in this case, leases a new 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe. On July 22, 2021, he was driving with his wife and two children on a highway, at high speed, when the display in the vehicle suddenly showed an error message about the electric hybrid system. It warned him to immediately pull over to the side and put the Jeep in Park.

The complaint alleges, “The Jeep’s entire system shut down, including its engine, air conditioning system, navigation screen, and all other systems.”

Kappler did get the vehicle to the side of the road and put it in Park, at which it turned off completely. A few minutes later, the screens came back up again and “indicated that the Jeep could be turned back on.” After that, the vehicle restarted.

Kappler then made an appointment with a Jeep dealership to look at the vehicle on August 2. No one warned him to stop driving the vehicle, nor had he received any other warnings or notices about it. Kappler restarted the vehicle and went on to his destination; he continued driving it thereafter.

On July 31, two days before his appointment with Jeep and still without receiving any warning about the vehicle, the problem occurred again. Kappler had to cross three lanes of highway traffic to pull over. From there, he had the vehicle towed to a Jeep dealership.

On August 11, the vehicle was still at the dealership and no one had looked at it. Kappler then had it towed to a different dealership.

The complaint, filed on September 16, 2021, alleges, “The Jeep has been out of service since July 31, 2021. FCA has not provided any material update or information concerning the condition of the Jeep and has not provided a loaner or temporary vehicle.”

The complaint quotes from postings describing similar problems with other such vehicles at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.

The complaint alleges that FCA has not issued bulletins or warnings on the vehicles but has gone on promoting them, including by “having the President of the United States drive one during an electric vehicle event” and “bragg[ing] about the Class Vehicles being the bestselling hybrid electric vehicle of the second quarter of 2021.”

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Automobile

Most Recent Case Event

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid Abrupt Shutdown While in Use Complaint

September 16, 2021

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is made by FCA US. The complaint for this class action alleges it has flawed electronic or computer systems that cause it to shut down without warning while it is in motion. According to the complaint, FCA has not warned customers, recalled the vehicles, or taken other steps to protect drivers and passengers from danger.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid Abrupt Shutdown While in Use Complaint

Case Event History

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid Abrupt Shutdown While in Use Complaint

September 16, 2021

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is made by FCA US. The complaint for this class action alleges it has flawed electronic or computer systems that cause it to shut down without warning while it is in motion. According to the complaint, FCA has not warned customers, recalled the vehicles, or taken other steps to protect drivers and passengers from danger.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid Abrupt Shutdown While in Use Complaint
Tags: Defective Automobile, Electronic/Computer System Failure, Shutdown