Jeep is recalling 97,349 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs because the roof rack crossbars can come loose. The Wagoneer roof rack recall covers four models built across the 2022 to 2026 model years. According to the federal recall summary, the bolts the crossbars pivot on may not be tight enough.
If a crossbar detaches, it can become a road hazard for other drivers. As a result, the risk of a crash goes up. Owners won’t pay for the fix, because dealers will replace the pivot bolts free of charge.
The first owner letters were due to go out on October 8, 2026. Here’s which SUVs the recall includes, how the two-step notice works and what owners should do now.
Which SUVs the Wagoneer roof rack recall covers
The NHTSA recall record lists the campaign as 26V584000. The manufacturer on file is FCA US, which is Chrysler, and NHTSA received the report on September 10, 2026. Chrysler’s own number for the campaign is 81D.
The recall covers certain 2022–2025 Jeep Wagoneer and 2022–2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUVs. It also includes the long-wheelbase versions, which means the 2023–2025 Wagoneer L and the 2023–2026 Grand Wagoneer L. In total, NHTSA lists 97,349 vehicles as potentially affected. In other words, that’s the group that could have the problem, not a count of failures.
The plain Wagoneer stops at 2025 in the record, while the Grand Wagoneer runs through 2026. That lines up with Motor1’s report that Jeep dropped the regular Wagoneer name and kept the Grand Wagoneer. According to that report, the 2026 Grand Wagoneer lineup moved down to cover the old Wagoneer’s price range.
What’s wrong with the crossbars
NHTSA files the defect under body structure, in its roof and pillars category. Specifically, the problem is the pivot bolts that hold the roof rack crossbars. If those bolts aren’t tight enough, the crossbars can detach.
NHTSA’s consequence statement is short and direct. “Detached roof rack crossbars can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash,” the record says.
Also, two outlets carried the same details. For example, CarPro’s weekly recall roundup listed the same model years, the same unit count and the 81D number on September 25. Later, Work Truck Online’s October recall list repeated the same remedy and letter date.
How the fix and the two letters work
Dealers will replace the roof rack crossbar pivot bolts at no cost to owners. However, the recall uses two mailings. First, interim letters were due to go out on October 8, 2026. Then a second notice will follow once the final remedy is available.
So far, the record doesn’t give a date for that second letter. In the meantime, owners don’t have to wait for the mail to find out if the recall includes their SUV. NHTSA made the involved VINs searchable on September 17, 2026.
Federal rules also set a deadline for the first letter. According to NHTSA, manufacturers must notify registered owners by first-class mail within 60 days of telling the agency about a recall. For this campaign, that first mailing falls 28 days after NHTSA received the report.
What Wagoneer owners should do
For most owners, the quickest check is a VIN search on NHTSA’s recalls page. NHTSA says to look on the lower left of the windshield for the 17-character VIN. It also appears on the registration card. The search shows any unrepaired recall, and NHTSA tells owners to contact a local dealer to have recalled parts fixed for free.
Owners can also call Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 and reference recall 81D. In addition, NHTSA’s free SaferCar app can send alerts for any vehicle an owner enters.
Keep one limit in mind, though. NHTSA notes that its VIN search doesn’t show a recall once a dealer has fixed it. It may also miss very recent recalls, so a dealer call is a good backup.
Where the modern Wagoneer came from
Jeep revived the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer names for the 2022 model year. According to Consumer Guide’s 2021 first drive, Stellantis called the Wagoneer a “premium extension” of the Jeep brand. The magazine also reported that production would begin in Warren, Michigan. At launch, it listed the Grand Wagoneer Series I from $88,995 including destination.
But the names go back much further. The original Wagoneer debuted for 1963 as a Kaiser-Jeep utility wagon, according to The Truth About Cars. Later, it became the Grand Wagoneer in 1984. That body style lasted through 1991, when Jeep sold 4,253 of them in their final year.
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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.
