Jeep Wrangler 4xe Recall After OTA Software Update Bricks Hybrids
What’s the Problem
Jeep has issued an emergency recall for roughly 24,000 Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid SUVs from model years 2023 through 2025 after an over-the-air (OTA) software update caused vehicles to lose propulsion. According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the update disrupted communication between two critical systems—the telematics box module (TBM) and the hybrid control processor (HCP). This glitch could cause the hybrid drive system to shut down without warning, even while the vehicle is being driven.
The recall follows widespread owner reports of power loss, immobilization, and warning messages appearing immediately after Jeep pushed the software update in October 2025. Some drivers said their vehicles entered “limp mode” or became stuck in Park, unable to restart. Jeep quickly rolled back the software and began notifying dealers on October 23, 2025, with consumer notifications expected to follow by late November.
This incident has raised fresh questions about automakers’ use of OTA updates—meant to improve performance and convenience—but which, when deployed improperly, can create serious safety risks and consumer-law exposure.
Allegations
Owners allege that their Wrangler 4xe vehicles functioned normally until Jeep’s OTA update was installed. After the update, the vehicles lost power, failed to accelerate, or shut down entirely. Many report being stranded in traffic or on highways, forced to tow their vehicles to dealerships for emergency repair.
Several owners expressed frustration on Jeep forums and social media that the automaker had not adequately tested the update before deployment. Reports in The Drive, Car and Driver, and Road & Track corroborate that the failure occurred immediately following the OTA patch, indicating a software-originated defect rather than individual misuse.
From a consumer-protection standpoint, the allegations point to potential violations of warranty law. Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, repeated or substantial failures that impair a vehicle’s use, value, or safety may qualify as a “lemon,” even when the root cause is software-based.
Recall / TSB
The recall covers 2023–2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids equipped with the faulty OTA update linking the TBM and HCP. Jeep’s interim fix involves rolling back the software to the previous version while engineers develop a permanent repair. As of this writing, no injuries or collisions have been linked to the defect.
Jeep instructed dealers to confirm module communication integrity and apply the rollback before releasing affected vehicles. Owners can verify recall inclusion by checking their VIN on the official Jeep recall website or through NHTSA’s lookup tool.
Symptoms
Wrangler 4xe owners who recently received or installed a software update should be alert to these symptoms: sudden or complete loss of propulsion, a “Ready” mode displayed but no drive power, warning messages instructing the driver to shift to Park while the vehicle is still moving, or an inability to restart after shutdown.
The issue can occur without warning, leaving drivers unable to move the vehicle. In some cases, owners have reported that the electric-only drive fails while the gas engine will not engage, effectively bricking the hybrid system.
If your Wrangler 4xe displays these conditions, avoid further driving and contact a Jeep service center immediately.
How to Proceed
Document Issues: Keep complete records of every repair order, dealership communication, and any notice or bulletin regarding OTA updates. Ask the dealership to include precise descriptions of the defect—especially “loss of drive power after OTA update.”
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: While the law does not set a fixed number, generally if the same issue persists after four or more repair attempts or if your vehicle has been out of service for over 30 days, it may qualify as a lemon.
Monitor Symptoms: If the recall fix or subsequent software patch fails to correct the problem—or if the same power-loss symptoms recur—stop driving the vehicle and report the issue to your dealer. Continuing to operate the vehicle may pose additional safety risks.
Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney, like Valero Law, APC: If repairs have failed or your vehicle remains unreliable, you may have rights under California’s Lemon Law. Valero Law APC represents consumers in these cases on a contingency basis—clients pay no fees unless compensation is recovered.
Call Valero Law
Protect Your Rights Under California Lemon Law
If you are a Jeep Wrangler 4xe owner experiencing propulsion loss, software-related shutdowns, or other hybrid-system failures following an OTA update, you may be entitled to relief under the California Lemon Law.
Remedies may include a complete vehicle repurchase, a replacement vehicle, or substantial cash reimbursement for loss of value and inconvenience.
If you are in California and your Wrangler 4xe has suffered drive-system failures, contact Valero Law, APC at (424) 299-4447 or complete a free Lemon Law case evaluation today.