Stellantis is telling the homeowners of greater than 24,000 plug-in hybrid minivans to park them outdoor away from buildings, and to cease charging them as a result of the potential for battery fires.
The corporate mentioned Thursday that it’s recalling sure 2017 by 2021 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrids, primarily in North America. Some are being recalled for a second time. All can nonetheless be pushed.
Stellantis, maker of Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and different automobile manufacturers, mentioned its investigation is ongoing however the firm has linked the issue to a uncommon abnormality in particular person battery cells. The chance of fires is diminished when the battery is depleted.
An organization overview of guarantee information found seven fires inside the group of vans being recalled. All occurred when the autos have been turned off, and a few occurred throughout charging, Stellantis mentioned. 4 prospects reported signs of smoke inhalation.
Engineers are nonetheless testing the treatment, which entails a software program replace designed to detect the battery abnormality. If an issue is discovered, sellers will substitute the high-voltage battery without charge to homeowners.
House owners can be notified by mail when to take their minivans in for service. After July 24, they’ll go to remembers.mopar.com or checktoprotect.org and key of their automobile identification numbers to see if their vans are a part of the recall. Later fashions have an improved manufacturing course of and usually are not being recalled, the corporate mentioned.
The recall comes six months after U.S. security regulators started investigating a 2022 recall of practically 17,000 of the vans. The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration mentioned in paperwork that it will overview the effectiveness of the recall and attempt to perceive the reason for the battery fires.
