Federal safety regulators have closed their Jeep fire probe into 2021–2025 Wranglers and Gladiators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a recall filed in June now covers the problem. That recall reaches 1,076,999 vehicles, far more than the 781,459 the investigation started with.

This is not a new recall. Instead, it is the end of a two-year investigation into underhood fires that started while the trucks were parked with the ignition off. NHTSA closed the case on September 24, 2026.

For owners, the closing changes little on its own. The recall and its parking advice still apply to every vehicle that hasn’t been repaired. Here’s what the investigation found, what the recall does and what owners should do.

What NHTSA’s Jeep fire probe looked at

According to NHTSA’s closing report for investigation PE24024, the agency opened its preliminary evaluation on September 6, 2024. The subject line reads “Underhood fires while vehicle in ignition off state.” The manufacturer on file is Chrysler, listed as FCA US, LLC.

Most of the reports described fires starting on the front passenger side of the engine bay while the vehicle was off. In several cases, the fire began at the electrical connector of the electrohydraulic power steering pump.

At first, the probe covered 781,459 vehicles. Then the recall widened that to all 2021–2025 Wrangler and Gladiator models in the affected build window.

Why NHTSA closed the investigation

The answer sits in one sentence of NHTSA’s closing report: “This recall directly covers the vehicles and issues examined in this investigation.” As a result, the agency is not asking FCA for more information right now.

That does not mean NHTSA has walked away for good. The report says the agency will keep monitoring how the vehicles perform in the field. It also reserves the right to take further action if needed. FOX 2 Detroit, reporting from Reuters, says regulators gave the same message when the probe closed.

The recall behind the closing

FCA filed recall 26V363 on June 4, 2026. Its own campaign number is 21D. In its defect report to NHTSA, the company said the pump’s electrical connection “is susceptible to high resistance.” That can overheat nearby combustible material and potentially cause a fire.

The same report splits the 1,076,999 vehicles into 787,887 Wranglers and 289,112 Gladiators. The Wrangler count runs from builds dated June 24, 2020, through December 2, 2024. Meanwhile, the Gladiator window starts August 18, 2020, and ends on the same date. FCA estimated that about 0.1% of the vehicles actually have the defect.

There can be warning signs first. FCA’s report says some drivers may lose power steering assist or see a “Service Power Steering” message.

Fires and injuries on record

The closing report counts 51 crashes or fires tied to the issue. It also lists four injuries and no deaths. Those totals combine NHTSA’s own reports, FCA’s early-warning reports and other field sources, with duplicates removed.

However, the injury count has moved over time. In its June defect report, FCA said that as of May 18, 2026, it knew of no accidents and one injury potentially related to the issue. The higher figure of four comes from NHTSA’s closing report.

What Wrangler and Gladiator owners should do

First, check whether the recall includes your Jeep. The NHTSA recall record covers certain 2021–2025 Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe and Gladiator vehicles. Owners can enter their VIN at NHTSA.gov or call FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Next, follow the parking advice until a dealer finishes the repair. The recall record tells owners to park outside and away from structures. FOX 2 Detroit adds that NHTSA urged owners to keep the vehicles away from other vehicles and buildings as well.

The recall also spells out the repair. Dealers will inspect the wiring and the power steering pump, then replace them as necessary, free of charge. FCA’s report said owner letters would go out in phases between July 9 and August 3, 2026. Because the record doesn’t say whether parts are on hand at every dealer, owners should confirm with their dealer before booking.

Although the case has ended, its file stays on the record. NHTSA lists PE24024 as opened September 6, 2024, and closed September 24, 2026, with 1,076,999 vehicles now under recall 26V363.

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This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.