Samsung SDI is recalling 180,000 high-voltage battery packs installed in certain Chrysler, Volkswagen, Audi, and Ford vehicles in North America, Europe, and Asia following an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

The battery can fail increasing the risk of a fire and loss of power increasing the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA documents. 

Another document says the battery packs have been subject to 573 reports. 

While the root cause of the issue remains under investigation, Ford’s recall notes that variability in the battery cell supplier’s production may result in the cell’s cathode inducing micro-defect and/or local stresses in the cell’s separator layer, according to the document. 

Chrysler notified Samsung SDI of two fires in Jeep Wrangler PHEV vehicle battery packs in May 2023. The OEM was later notified in October 2023 of another five fires, NHTSA documents say. It says that a month later the OEM notified Samsung SDI again regarding eight more field reports. 

Following the November reports, 32,125 Jeep Wrangler PHEV vehicles were recalled. In April and July 2024, Chrysler once again contacted Samsung to notify the company of fires outside of the scoop of the recall in Jeep Wrangler PHEVs and Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEVs.  

Chrysler issued an additional recall for 118,230 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 35,802 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs and 1,064 service kits in October 2024. 

Audi notified the company in August 2023 of four battery pack fires involving vehicles outside the U.S., according to NHTSA. Audi issued a recall for its Q5 and A7 plug-in hybrids after receiving additional non-U.S. reports, NHTSA documents state. 

Samsung was notified by Ford in May and August 2024 regarding three reports from Europe describing battery thermal venting, the NHTSA documents say.  Ford issued a recall on 16,048 Escape PHEVs and 4,004 Lincoln Corsair PHEVs in December 2024. 

Stellantis issued a statement to Green Car Reports last week saying that its remedy for the Jeep includes a software update and, if necessary, a replacement of the high-voltage battery. 

NHTSA suggests vehicle owners contact their OEMs with any questions at 1-800-853-1403 (Chrysler), 1-800-253-2834 (Volkswagen), and 1-866-436-7332 (Ford).

Vehicle owners may also contact the NHTSA safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

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