Dive Brief:
- FCA US has recalled nearly 79K Jeep Wanglers for a condition where the tire pressure warning light may not illuminate as intended, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall includes 2024-2025 Wrangler models built between April 30, 2023, and Dec. 20, 2024, and equipped with an optional remote start and keyless entry feature. These vehicles may have a pinched or shortened remote start antenna cable, which impacts the operation of the tire pressure monitoring system.
- Dealers will inspect and replace the antenna cable for the remote start system as needed, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on Sept 2.
Dive Insight:
According to the recall report, the antenna cable may be pinched under the left rear seat belt bracket, which FCA US says is due to improper assembly and not a manufacturing defect. An estimated 1% of the recalled Wranglers may have damaged antenna cables.
However, in an Aug. 15 notification to dealers, FCA US said that the parts needed to address the recall won’t be available until the third quarter of this year. The remote start hardware was sourced from Michigan-based supplier Harada Industry of America.
The automaker had been aware of the problem since Oct. 22, 2024, after its Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization opened an investigation into some 2024-2025 Jeep Wrangler models, whose tire pressure warning lights had illuminated due to a pinched antenna cable.
From October 2024 through June 2025, investigators at FCA US reviewed warranty data, vehicle production records and customer assistance records to determine the scope of the problem. The team also met with engineering and personnel at Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex, where the Jeeps were built, to understand the root cause of the pinched antenna cable.
In July, FCA’s Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization determined that the problem was due to a vehicle build issue. It concluded that it potentially exists on all 2024-2025 Wrangler models produced at the Toledo Assembly Complex through Dec. 20, 2024.
After its investigation, FCA US issued the recall for the Jeep models on Aug. 7.
