Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #628

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
‘All of These Error Codes,’ Michigan Family Sues Jeep After Hybrid Shuts Down On The Highway
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2tC2XbKWq7U
By Henry Cesari
Imagine you’re cruising along the highway, doing 70 mph in the fast lane. Then you see your dash- board light up and feel your car’s engine shut down. You’re coasting without any help from the power steer- ing or power brakes to get your car back under con- trol. And your kid’s buckled
into a child seat in the back.
This is an actual failure Carley Phillips says she suffered with
her 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. When asked for comment, Jeep admitted 2022–2026 Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids have been recalled for this issue. An issue with how
the electronic components of the two separate power- trains communicate with one another can result in “the propulsion system shutting down without warning and increase the risk of a collision.”
Normally, suing a car com- pany for a problem they’ve owned up to and are fixing through a recall would be
an uphill battle. But the kicker is that the Phillips’ leased Jeep had already been in and out of the shop for over 30 days. The automaker told them it was fixed before this terrifying shutdown. When PJ Phillips demanded a differ- ent vehicle, Jeep even offered him a small monthly “customer retention” pay- ment to keep driving the same Jeep.
After the highway shut- down, the Phillips family is done. They’re suing Jeep for the problem and asking for their money back. PJ says, “This is a family car and it’s unsafe, and I’m doing what’s best for my family.”
Jeep’s offered them a bit of cash back, but adjusted for deflation and that customer retention payment. The Phillipses say that’s not good enough. They’ve been making a $700 monthly payment for reli- able transportation and Jeep didn’t deliver, so they want all their money back.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine