Software Update Leaves Some Jeep Wrangler 4xe Owners Stranded

An over-the-air software update caused powertrain issues for some Wrangler 4xe owners last weekend.

• Jeep recently pushed an over-the-air software update to the Wrangler 4xe, which led to problems for some vehicles.
• Owners reported that the powertrain would shut down while driving, in some cases at highway speeds.
• Jeep told customers to be careful and to avoid the hybrid and electric drive modes before the company reportedly issued a fix over the weekend.

Modern cars are packed full of computers, with many models capable of over-the-air updates that allow automakers to tweak things from the software interface to powertrain management without needing the customer to leave their garage. But these much-touted over-the-air updates don’t always work as intended, with some Jeep Wrangler 4xe owners ending up stranded after installing an over-the-air update this past weekend, as reported by Ars Technica.

While the update was intended for the UConnect infotainment system, a bug in the new software affected the powertrain, causing owners to be stuck without an operational vehicle. According to posts from owners on forums and social media sites, the update didn’t cause problems initially, with the issue instead rearing its head while owners were driving. In some cases, this even happened when the driver was traveling at highway speeds, with the powertrain effectively shutting down and the system telling the driver to put the car into park and then push the start button again.Michael Simari|Car and Driver

According to Ars Technica, Jeep took down the update after reports of problems started popping up. However, many owners had already installed the update by that point. A Stellantis representative posted on a Jeep forum, telling owners who had yet to update their cars to defer the update if they see the pop-up message appear on their infotainment screen. The representative also urged customers to “please exercise extreme caution” if they had installed the update and suggested not using the hybrid or electric drive modes.

The same representative posted on the forum on Saturday that a fix had been launched that evening. According to the post, the fix requires the vehicle to be “turned on in good cellular coverage.” After leaving the vehicle on for at least 10 minutes, owners were then instructed to “turn the vehicle off, back on, and ensure there is no code/fault on the instrument cluster and you see ‘Ready.'”

We have reached out to Stellantis for comment regarding this situation and will update this story when we hear back.

A Fire at an Aluminum Supplier Is Hurting Ford Big Time

A fire in September is having widespread repercussions as Ford tries to navigate a shortage of aluminum that it desperately needs for its bestselling model.By Caleb MillerPublished: Oct 17, 2025Save Article

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

• Ford and Stellantis are experiencing production slowdowns after a fire at an aluminum supplier’s factory in September.
• Ford has idled production of the Expedition and Navigator SUVs and is having to cut F-150 truck production by over half.
• Stellantis is pausing production of the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for three weeks.

A fire at a supplier’s plant is wreaking havoc in the automotive industry. On September 16, a fire broke out at an aluminum sheet plant owned by Novelis in Oswego, New York, which supplies 10 automakers, including Ford, Stellantis, and Toyota, Automotive News reports. The fire has now led to several automotive plants experiencing temporary shutdowns and delays as the delivery of new aluminum parts slows.Michael Simari|Car and Driver

According to Automotive News, the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which currently builds the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, was idled starting this week, with plans to resume production the week of November 3. That will result in three weeks of no new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer units leaving the factory. Combined, the two large SUVs have sold 34,672 units through the end of the third quarter. Parent company Stellantis is instead prioritizing aluminum parts for the Ram 1500 pickup truck, the automaker’s top-selling vehicle.

The aluminum shortage is having an even bigger effect at Ford, where the F-series truck— the bestselling vehicle in the United States—is seeing its production cut by over half. Automotive News reports that Ford has told suppliers that it will assemble around 530 trucks per day at the Dearborn Truck Assembly facility until October 27. That is 55 percent lower than normal levels, and Ford has also idled production of the electric F-150 Lightning, according to a Reuters report.Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Detroit Free Press also reports that the production shutdown has now spread to the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, both built in Louisville, Kentucky. These two SUVs are expected to be offline for two weeks, while the pause for the Lightning could last even longer. While the Expedition sells well, moving 66,624 units through the third quarter, it and the Navigator—at 16,370 units—are just a drop in the bucket versus the 620,580 F-series trucks Ford has sold this year.

The Novelis plant is not expected to reopen until the first quarter of 2026, leading Ford and other companies to try and find alternative sources for aluminum. Ford is hit particularly hard since the F-series truck is among its most profitable models, with analysts cited by Automotive News estimating a potential $1 billion in losses. This may lead Ford to turn to imported aluminum and have to pay tariffs in the face of further potential production stoppages.

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298K Dodge Darts Recalled Again Due to a Rollaway Risk

The recall involves 2013 to 2016 Darts, which may have faulty transmission shifter cables, even after a previous 2019 recall.By Eric StaffordPublished: Oct 16, 2025Save Article

Dodge

• The Dodge Dart—dead since 2016—is again being recalled for an issue with its transmission shifter cable.
• The shifter cable can become disconnected, preventing the transmission from going into park and potentially leading to a rollaway accident.
• The recall affects 298,439 copies of the compact sedan (2013 to 2016 models), which were previously recalled in 2019 for the same thing.

The Dodge Dart was discontinued following the 2016 model year, but, interestingly, six people bought new ones within the past three months. However, those “zombie” cars are now part of a massive recall that involves 298,439 Darts equipped with an automatic transmission.

According to documents submitted earlier this month to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dodge is issuing the recall because of a faulty transmission shift cable. It can become disconnected, which can prevent the vehicle from going into Park and potentially lead to the vehicle rolling away, increasing the risk of an accident.Michael Simari|Car and Driver

As a result of the issue, Stellantis is conducting a voluntary recall, though the company is still working on a remedy for the problem. The same thing caused Dodge to recall nearly 300,000 Darts back in 2019. But five years later, NHTSA documents state that there was an uptick in reports about failures following that prior fix. Eventually, it was discovered that the shifter cable bushings may fail after the previous recall. While Stellantis says it hasn’t heard of any accidents or injuries resulting from the issue, it has acknowledged that there’s a safety risk, per the NHTSA documents.

Stellantis will notify dealers around October 16, 2025, the same day that owners can use their VIN to find out if their vehicle is part of the recall population. Otherwise, Stellantis says that owners are expected to be notified by sometime around November 6, 2025.

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