Recall 21D: My Wrangler 4xe Could Catch Fire. Even Parked.

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Another recall. And this one isn’t a software tweak — it comes with a fire risk warning and advice to park outside and away from structures until it’s fixed.

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What’s the Problem?

NHTSA campaign 26V363, manufacturer recall 21D, filed June 4, 2026. It affects all 2021–2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models — every engine, every trim, including the 4xe. Over 787,000 Wranglers alone.

The culprit is the Electric Hydraulic Power Steering Pump (EHPSP) connector. During manufacturing, the pump header was built out of specified tolerances, requiring excessive force to connect. That can spread the terminals or prevent a full seat — resulting in a loose connection with high resistance. Resistance means heat, and enough heat means fire.

What’s particularly unsettling: no visible damage needs to be present. An affected connector can look fine while still being a hazard. And the risk exists even with the ignition off — the car doesn’t need to be running. As of May 2026, Stellantis is aware of 35 confirmed incidents at the EHPSP connection and one injury.

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Déjà Vu

My 4xe already went through Recall 68C — the high-voltage battery fire recall — where a “park outside” advisory was also in effect. That one turned out fine for my vehicle. But this is now my second major fire-related recall in under two years, and the frustration is real.

To be fair, the system is working as intended: Stellantis reopened the investigation after additional incidents, traced the root cause, and initiated a voluntary recall. The fix — dealer inspection and replacement or repair of affected parts — will be free of charge. But still.

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What To Do

• June 11, 2026 — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
• July 2026 — remedy expected to be available
• In the meantime: park outside and away from buildings if you can

Don’t wait for the letter. Contact your dealer early and get into the queue before the rush.

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Update (June 2026): Recall 21D Is Worldwide — Europe Included

When this recall first broke, most of the coverage focused on the US numbers. It’s worth clarifying for European and Swiss owners: this is a global campaign, not a US-only one. Stellantis reports roughly 1.3 million vehicles worldwide — about 1.08 million in the US, 106,000 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico, and around 125,000 across other markets. Europe, and therefore Switzerland, falls into that last group.

The affected models are the 2021–2025 Wrangler and Gladiator, built between June 24, 2020 and December 2, 2024. If your VIN sits in that production window, you’re part of the recall population — even if an early VIN lookup came back clean. The VIN databases are being populated gradually, and notification letters in the US only start on July 9, 2026. European and Swiss owners are typically informed later, through the local importer and dealer network, so a delay is normal.

The “Park Outside” advisory applies here too. Until the repair is done, Stellantis advises parking away from buildings and other vehicles — not in a closed garage or right next to your house. The reason: the wiring at the electric-hydraulic power steering pump (EHPSP) connector can overheat and, in rare cases, start a fire even with the ignition off.

A bit of perspective: Stellantis estimates only about 0.1% of the recalled population actually carries the active defect. So statistically, most vehicles are fine — but the inspection still applies to everyone in the window.

What to watch for: a loss of power steering assist, or a “Service Power Steering” warning message. Either of these can precede a thermal event. If you see one, stop driving, park the vehicle, and contact your dealer.

For Swiss owners specifically: your most reliable confirmation is your dealer checking the VIN through the Stellantis Switzerland system, rather than the US NHTSA or Mopar lookups, which may not reflect Swiss-market vehicles.

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