While stopped in active traffic at a red light on August 31, 2026, the vehicle suffered an unexpected, complete electrical failure and sudden total loss of motive power. The digital instrument cluster illuminated a red battery indicator accompanied by an urgent safety alert stating: "Stop Safely / Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon." Within seconds, total vehicle electrical power collapsed, the engine died completely, and the vehicle became immobilized in the active lane of travel, unable to restart or clear the intersection. When roadside assistance arrived and applied external jump power, the engine cranked and briefly started, but severe, rapid electromechanical ticking and chattering immediately occurred inside the primary Power Distribution Center (PDC). System voltage collapsed again within seconds, stalling the engine. The immobilized vehicle had to be winched onto a commercial flatbed to clear the roadway. Subsequent inspection confirmed a severed high-amp charging busbar fuse array inside the PDC on a vehicle with only 18,259 miles. A sudden, uncommanded electrical collapse and complete loss of motive power that immobilizes a vehicle in active traffic creates a severe hazard and an unreasonable risk of collision.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11762239 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

This vehicle suffered a sudden; catastrophic hydraulic brake fluid leak and complete system failure shortly after a service visit with only 700 miles total on the new vehicle. Hours prior to the failure, Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Manassas, VA (where the vehicle was purchased new, earlier that month) performed and signed off on a multi-point inspection as fully functional while the vehicle was taken in for other warranty service (non safety or brake related). As a former mechanic, I inspected the vehicle immediately when I arrived home on the same day and discovered the brake fluid reservoir was almost half empty with fluid actively leaking and pooling on the frame and around the inner fender! Due to the catastrophic safety risk, the vehicle was immediately towed to Safford Jeep of Fredericksburg, VA to due it being geographically closer to my home, confirming the safety failure, and fixing the following defective components: Brake Hydraulic Control Unit and ABS Module. Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Manassas, VA (the originally servicing dealership) completely falsified the multi-point safety inspection that they signed off on, sending my vehicle on public roads in Northern Virginia, some of the most dangerous traffic in the world. Of note, I also drive the vehicle to/from work almost 100 miles per day during the week to/from Stafford, VA to Washington, DC. If I had not inspected the vehicle myself and waited until the first appointment for the first oil change, this would have without a doubt, caused a serious accident in [XXX] , which is the route i mostly travel, a large amount of property damage, likely injury or possible death, due to the absolute fact that I would have lost all brake fluid and have had no brakes at all. There were no warning lamps illuminated at all. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11739523 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov