Last winter, Chrysler asked owners of 2017-2018 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) minivans to park them away from structures and stop plugging them in to charge while the automaker investigated reports of vehicle fires.
Now, the company says it has a solution for the problem that may have contributed to at least 12 fires.
The fix involves a trip to the dealer to update the software that manages the lithium-ion battery pack. Dealers will also inspect the battery and replace it if anything seems suspicious. This can apparently be a long process. In a letter to dealers, Chrysler asks them to provide owners with a loaner car for up to two days while technicians complete the repair.
Once a dealer completes the work, Chrysler says, owners can resume parking their Pacifica models indoors and charging them so they can take full advantage of owning a plug-in hybrid again.
Recalls are common, and the repairs they require are always free. Manufacturers attempt to contact every owner, but they don’t always reach them all with the news. Find out if your car has ever been recalled at our recall center.
