A routine over-the-air (OTA) software update over the weekend has left numerous Jeep hybrid vehicles inoperable. The affected models, primarily the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe, have left owners stranded and facing potential towing costs, with some drivers stranded in remote locations such as national parks.
The Faulty OTA Update
The software update was automatically pushed to eligible 2021-2023 Jeep 4xe hybrids with the aim of improving battery management and infotainment features. However, instead of enhancing the vehicle’s performance, it caused a critical boot failure in the vehicle’s ECU. The update corrupted the hybrid powertrain software, preventing the engine from cranking and displaying error code P1D73 on the dashboard for affected vehicles. source.
Signs of the issue emerged within hours of the update’s deployment. The first owner complaints surfaced on Jeep forums around 2 PM EST, indicating a widespread problem that was quickly escalating.
Impact on Owners
Owners have been left in difficult situations due to the software failure. For instance, Colorado resident Mark Thompson reported his 2022 Wrangler 4xe failing to start during a family camping trip in Rocky Mountain National Park, forcing a $500 tow. The scale of the problem is significant, with over 200 verified cases reported on Reddit’s r/Jeep and Jeep Garage forums, predominantly affecting U.S. owners in states like California and Texas.
Aside from the inconvenience and financial burden, safety concerns have also been raised by owners. In one incident in Arizona, a bricked Grand Cherokee 4xe stalled on a highway, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Stellantis’ Response and Fixes
In response to the crisis, Stellantis, the manufacturer of Jeep, issued a statement advising owners to avoid driving and contact dealers for a manual rollback procedure. This acknowledgment came a day after the faulty update, via their official Jeep Twitter account.
A temporary workaround has been provided, involving a dealer diagnostic tool to flash an older firmware version. This solution has resolved the issue for approximately 150 vehicles. To alleviate the financial burden on owners, Stellantis has offered reimbursement for towing up to $250 per incident and free loaner vehicles at participating dealerships.
Lessons for Automotive OTA Updates
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks of OTA updates in hybrids and EVs. Past failures, such as the 2015 Tesla Model S update that bricked 100 vehicles, emphasize the need for staged rollouts and thorough testing before wide-scale deployment.
From a regulatory perspective, the NHTSA has received 50 complaints and may investigate whether Stellantis violated software update disclosure rules under FMVSS 138. This could potentially lead to stricter regulations and guidelines for automotive software updates in the future.
Owner sentiment towards connected vehicle tech has been significantly affected. As one forum user, JeepFan2022, put it, “This update turned my dream Jeep into a $60,000 paperweight.” This incident has eroded trust in connected vehicle technology and highlighted the need for robust and reliable software in our vehicles.