NHTSA Complaint #11617119 — 2022 JEEP GLADIATOR

In the early afternoon hours of July 5, 2024, our 2022 jeep gladiator rubicon with only 18,000 miles spontaneously combusted in our driveway after being parked there for just under 24 hours. While working in the yard, my husband noticed thick black smoke coming from the engine. The smoke quickly turned into flames then rapidly intensified as it spread throughout the engine, cabin and then ultimately the entire jeep. The jeep was a total and complete loss with Jeep claiming no responsibility whatsoever. We have over $60,000 in damages to our home, driveway, landscaping and soil (PFAS) from the fire, NOT including the jeep itself. Note *The engine light did go on about a month prior to the fire, which from what we were told by Jeep service dept, was due to multiple misfires. This issue was resolved immediately. After the fire, the jeep was inspected by our insurance company and also by Jeep. Because the fire was so intense and quickly spread, there wasn’t anything left. Jeep never returned our calls and never once tried to make things right! Our safety was at risk for obvious reasons. The Jeep spontaneously started on fire due to no fault of our own. Had we not have been home, or had the Jeep been parked in our garage, facing the garage or the fire started at night while we were sleeping, the outcome would have been quite different. The damage it DID do to our property along with the mental anxiety and stress of trying to pay for repairs is significant enough without actually having our house burn down to the ground. This is unacceptable! Jeep needs to take responsibility!