Stellantis recalls 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles globally over fire risk

Stellantis has issued a sweeping global recall of more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles after identifying a potentially catastrophic electrical defect that can spark fires even when the ignition is off. The core of the action, viewed from Washington, is concentrated on the United States, where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that nearly 1.08 million units from model years 2021 to 2025 are affected. A company investigation traced the risk to the wiring harness of the electro-hydraulic power steering pump, which can overheat and cause combustible materials to ignite, prompting the automaker to urge owners to park outside and away from structures until repairs are completed.

North of the border, the scale is proportionally large: Stellantis Canada said it is recalling 106,258 vehicles of the same model years, part of what it described as a worldwide campaign. The Canadian advisory echoes the urgency, telling drivers to keep their Jeeps clear of other vehicles and buildings. Russian-language reports detail the same NHTSA filing, noting that the fire risk persists while the vehicle is parked and switched off. Together, the notices paint a picture of a defect that has rattled safety regulators across multiple jurisdictions, with the US, Canadian, and other national authorities coordinating the recall logistics. The total global reach, according to the automaker, surpasses 1.3 million SUVs and trucks.

From a European perspective, the recall strikes at the heart of the brand's rugged, go-anywhere image. Affari Italiani highlights the irony that the two models at the centre of the crisis—Wrangler and Gladiator—are powerful symbols of Jeep's heritage and among its most profitable nameplates in North America. The outlet notes that managing large recalls has become a defining industrial challenge for major automotive groups, a theme that resonates as Stellantis, born from a transatlantic merger, grapples with mounting quality-control scrutiny. Spanish-language reporting frames the same event in stark terms, underlining how the defect has forced the company to balance consumer trust against the operational strain of inspecting and replacing components across hundreds of thousands of units.

Looking ahead, the episode is likely to intensify debate over automakers' ability to keep pace with the regulatory demands of a globalized supply chain. Analysts in London note that the timing is delicate for Stellantis, which has been under pressure to prove that its multi-brand portfolio can deliver both efficiency and uncompromised safety. The immediate priority is completing the free dealer inspections and component replacements, but the longer-term test will be whether the company can prevent such reputational bruises from eroding loyalty to a make whose identity is built on resilience. As regulators on both sides of the Atlantic monitor the remedy, the recall serves as a cautionary tale of how a single wiring issue can cascade into a global corporate emergency.