If you own a modern Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator, you need to check where it is currently parked.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially escalated a major safety defect into an urgent “Park Outside” warning, alerting owners of more than one million Jeep vehicles to a severe fire risk. The defect is so severe that the vehicles can spontaneously ignite even when the ignition is completely turned off.
The 1-Million Vehicle Nightmare
The massive recall, officially filed by Jeep’s parent company FCA US, impacts a staggering 1,076,999 vehicles in the United States. Specifically, the recall covers the 2021 through 2025 model years for both the Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Gladiator.
According to the official safety notice, the issue stems from a faulty electrical connection within the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring. As this connection degrades over time, it can develop high electrical resistance. This creates immense heat that can cause nearby combustible materials to ignite and start a vehicle fire.
The most terrifying aspect of this defect is that the power steering system remains a hazard after the engine is shut down. The NHTSA explicitly warned that the wiring could overheat and cause a fire “even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the ‘Off’ position”.
The federal safety agency opened an investigation into the issue following multiple reports of parked vehicles catching fire. As of the recall filing, the NHTSA confirmed it is aware of 51 fires and one injury that are likely directly connected to this specific wiring defect.
Because the fire risk exists anytime the vehicle is parked, the NHTSA and FCA US are urging all owners to take immediate preventative action.
The official consumer alert instructs drivers to park their affected Wranglers and Gladiators outside and away from enclosed structures, homes, and other vehicles until the recall repair has been successfully completed.
Jeep dealerships will be tasked with inspecting the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring and replacing the affected components entirely free of charge. While FCA US is still finalizing the logistics of the remedy, owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out starting on July 9, 2026.
To find out if your specific rig is part of the 1-million vehicle recall, Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) will officially become searchable on the NHTSA.gov website on June 11, 2026. Owners can also reach out directly to FCA US customer service or utilize the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline to check their recall status.
