Stellantis faces jury trial over Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe shutdowns—after arbitration gets tossed
Stellantis is headed to court over a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe that a Michigan family says was unsafe, unreliable, and in the shop for weeks at a time—culminating in a terrifying highway shutdown with a child in the back seat. The case, spotlighted by local TV, lays out a paper trail of service visits, glitchy infotainment and cameras, a dead heater in winter, charging failures, and then the big one: the SUV allegedly lost propulsion at ~70 mph on I-75, lit the dash with error codes, and coasted to the shoulder. By itself, that’s a nightmare for any owner; stacked against a thick folder of invoices and a lease payment north of $700 a month for a vehicle that’s been parked at a dealer since May, it’s the kind of fact pattern that activates Michigan’s Lemon Law thresholds (multiple repair attempts and 30+ cumulative days out of service).
Initially, Stellantis (via FCA US) steered the dispute into its mandatory arbitration channel. But a Michigan judge vacated the arbitrator’s decision—calling it a misapplication of law—and cleared the family to pursue a full jury trial. That ruling matters, because juries don’t just read contracts; they hear stories. And “family SUV shuts off in traffic” alongside “months in the shop” is a story most jurors can immediately grasp, regardless of how they feel about the auto industry.
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The optics get worse for the brand when you zoom out. Just last month, Stellantis announced a recall covering roughly 92,000 Jeep 4xe hybrids (model years 2022–2026), citing software faults that can cause a loss of motive power while driving—the very hazard the Phillips family describes. Stellantis says customer safety is the priority, a remedy is being deployed, and it isn’t aware of related injuries. That’s the right corporate line, but it undercuts any argument that these are isolated gremlins or that owners should quietly accept “goodwill” checks instead of meaningful relief when a vehicle’s core safety promise is in doubt.
Legally, Stellantis does have tools. Automakers often rely on arbitration clauses to contain risk and standardize outcomes; they also apply mileage offsets and “use” deductions when calculating refunds or replacements. But those levers only work if the underlying process feels fair—and if the vehicle can be fixed. Here, the car has been down for months, the recall aligns with the complaint, and the arbitrator’s approach has already been rejected. Pursuing a jury trial risks a public verdict that could echo across similar 4xe claims.
There is a cleaner lane. Automakers win long-term by over-delivering when safety, kids, and breakdowns intersect—especially on high-profile electrified models that are supposed to be tech-forward flagships. A full lease unwind with fees, taxes, and reasonable consequential costs covered, plus a sincere apology and a transparent fix timeline for the broader fleet, would cost less than scorched-earth litigation and would play a lot better with customers (and dealers who have to face them).
If you own a Grand Cherokee 4xe (or any 4xe model) and have seen warning lights, stall events, or charging faults, schedule service immediately and reference the latest recall with your VIN. Document every visit, keep copies of repair orders, and know your state’s Lemon Law thresholds—days out of service and repeat repairs are the metrics that matter. If the vehicle can’t be made safe and reliable within those bounds, escalate in writing, then consider counsel.
This shouldn’t be complicated: family SUVs must stay powered, steerable, and predictable at highway speeds. When they don’t, the right move isn’t a courtroom flex; it’s doing right by the customer and fixing the fleet—fast.
