Jeep Wrangler Recall Tells Over a Million Owners to Stop Parking in Their Own Garage

Jeep just told over a million Americans their trucks could catch fire in the garage while the family sleeps.

That fire doesn't need the engine running, the keys in the ignition, or anyone near the vehicle.

Here's what Stellantis knew about this – and when they knew it.

The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Fire Risk Explained

The recall covers 2021 through 2025 Jeep Wrangler SUVs and Jeep Gladiator pickup trucks – 787,887 Wranglers and 289,112 Gladiators in the United States alone, with another 435,000 affected worldwide.

The defect sits in the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring.

The pump's electrical connector was manufactured out of spec – the terminals spread apart during assembly, leaving a poor connection that builds resistance, throws heat, and in the worst cases works its way up to a full vehicle fire.

No running engine required.

That means your Wrangler, parked in your attached garage overnight, quietly cooking while your family sleeps two floors above it.

Stellantis' official guidance: park it outside, away from your home, your other vehicles, and any structures, until dealers complete the repair.

They're not saying "use caution." They're saying get it out of the garage.

Stellantis Knew About This in 2023 and Closed the Investigation

Here's the part that should make your blood boil.

Stellantis first received fire reports in May 2023.

The company investigated for nearly a year – then shut the investigation down in April 2024, concluding the fires weren't happening often enough to "pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety."

They reopened in August 2024 after incidents kept climbing.

NHTSA launched its own investigation in September 2024.

By May 2026, Stellantis had documented 72 field reports with 35 confirmed fires traced directly to the faulty connector – plus one injury.

So the timeline is: fires reported in 2023, investigation closed, fires kept happening, investigation reopened, two more years of testing, recall finally issued June 2026.

Three years from first report to recall notice.

This isn't a company that acted fast. This is a company that waited until it had no choice.

Stellantis Recall Hits a Company Already on the Ropes

This recall lands at the worst possible moment for Stellantis – and the worst possible moment is exactly when they deserve it.

The company posted a net loss of €22.3 billion for full year 2025.

Stellantis brought in a new CEO – Antonio Filosa – in June 2025 after the previous leadership ran the company into the ground, with North American shipments falling 20 percent year-over-year in early 2025.

The Wrangler and Gladiator are the backbone of Jeep's American identity – the trucks that built the brand, the trucks that every outdoorsman, hunter, and off-road enthusiast in this country put their name on.

And Stellantis – a Dutch-Italian conglomerate that also owns Fiat, Peugeot, and Maserati – spent three years watching those vehicles catch fire before pulling the recall trigger.

What 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Owners Need to Do Right Now

If you own a 2021 through 2025 Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Gladiator, three steps.

First, park outside and away from structures until the repair is complete.

Second, check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls using recall number 26V363000 to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

Third, contact your Jeep dealer. Dealers are scheduled to be notified June 11, 2026. Owner letters begin mailing July 9, 2026. The fix – inspection and replacement of the affected wiring components – costs owners nothing.

But here's the bottom line: you bought a truck marketed as rugged, capable, and American. You paid for it. You trusted the badge.

And the company sat on fire reports for three years before deciding you deserved to know.

Sources:

• NHTSA, "Recall 26V363000," National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, June 9, 2026.
• Matt St-Pierre, "Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators Worldwide Over Fire Risk," Motor Illustrated, June 9, 2026.
• Michael Accardi, "Jeep Recalls Over 1 Million Wranglers and Gladiators For Fire Risk," AutoGuide, June 9, 2026.
• "Stellantis Tells Owners of 1.3 Million Jeeps to Park Outside Over Fire Concerns," CNBC, June 9, 2026.
• "Stellantis Recalls Vehicles Over Concern They Could Burst Into Flames," Daily Caller, June 9, 2026.
• Stellantis N.V., "Full Year 2025 Financial Results," SEC Filing, 2026.