Jeep Recalls 132,099 Cherokees For Fire Risk; Owners Advised To Park Outside

A faulty power liftgate module could cause the Jeep Cherokee to catch fire.

The power-operated liftgate is a modern convenience that is commonly found and very much desirable on nearly every vehicle that has a trunk area that opens up. Unfortunately, that system could cause some 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokees to catch fire. The issue is so concerning, that Jeep is recommending owners of these vehicles equipped with the power liftgate to park outside, away from any structures, lest the vehicle catch fire.

According to the NHTSA, Jeep is recalling 132,099 Cherokees made from 2014 to 2016. The power liftgate module was placed in such a manner that made the piece vulnerable to water. When water gets inside, the module can short-circuit, and lead to a fire. The vehicle doesn’t have to be on, either – Jeep reports that fires could happen with the vehicle parked and not running. The owner may notice that their power liftgate may stop working first for a while, but there’s no guaranteed time period in which the liftgate stops working, and when a potential fire could start.

Currently, Jeep doesn’t have a remedy yet. There have been officially 50 incidents related to the fires, but no injuries or accidents have been linked to the problem. Jeep expects to notify owners of an official fix by June 30. We aren’t sure what the fix will entail, but it’ll likely involve figuring out a way to make sure no water can penetrate the power liftgate module.

Until then, it’s best if you park your Jeep Cherokee outside, and away from anything important.

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