(Alliance News) - Carmaker Stellantis NV announced Wednesday the recall of more than 32,000 Jeep Wrangler hybrid SUVs from the U.S. market due to a potential fire risk.

Eight of the plug-in vehicles caught fire, six of them while plugged into chargers, the company said in a statement.

All of the SUVs were off at the time, and Stellantis said it was not aware of any injuries or accidents.

"The vehicles can be driven. However, the company advises owners to refrain from charging the hybrid ones and to park them away from structures and other vehicles until the problem is fixed," Stellantis said.

The recall affects some Wrangler 4xe models from 2021-2024, and the automaker said it will contact affected customers to schedule service for their vehicles.

The company said it discovered the defect after a routine review of customer data.

It also estimated that 1.0 percent of the vehicles affected by the recall could have the defect, which can be fixed by a software update or battery pack replacement.

U.S. President Joe Biden visited the state of Illinois this month to celebrate the reopening of the Stellantis assembly plant after the big three U.S. automakers reached an agreement with striking workers to improve their wage conditions.

Stellantis trades in the green by 0.4 percent at EUR18.63 per share.

source: AFP

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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