AUBURN HILLS, Michigan: Stellantis has issued a precautionary recall for over 24,000 plug-in hybrid minivans due to concerns about potential battery fires.
The company is advising owners to park these vehicles outdoors and avoid charging them while the investigation into the issue continues.
The recall affects certain 2017 through 2021 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrids, primarily in North America. This recall includes vehicles that are being addressed for a second time. Despite the recall, the minivans remain safe to drive.
Stellantis, which oversees brands like Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram, has identified a rare battery cell abnormality as the source of the fire risk. The risk is notably reduced when the battery is not charged or is depleted.
An internal review revealed seven fire incidents among the recalled vehicles, all occurring while the minivans were turned off, with some incidents linked to charging. Four reports of smoke inhalation were also noted. Stellantis is currently testing a remedy that involves a software update to detect potential battery issues. If a problem is identified, dealers will replace the high-voltage battery at no charge to the owners.
Owners will receive notification by mail when it is time to bring their vehicles in for service. They can also check their vehicle's recall status online at recalls.mopar.com or checktoprotect.org using their vehicle identification numbers starting July 24. Vehicles from later model years, which have undergone improvements in the manufacturing process, are not included in this recall.
This recall follows a prior investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a 2022 recall of nearly 17,000 minivans. The agency is evaluating the effectiveness of the earlier recall and investigating the underlying causes of the battery fires.