MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – A Monroe County couple said their new leased SUV lost power while traveling on I-75, and now they’re locked in a battle with Stellantis.
The family said after their Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe lost power prior to a recall of 92,000 hybrid SUVs over shutdown risks.
Stellantis filed in court to get the lawsuit dismissed.
Family’s dream car turns into safety concern
PJ Phillips leased what he thought would be the perfect family vehicle in 2023, as he and his wife were welcoming a newborn.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe hybrid SUV started with just 16 miles on the odometer, but the family would later discover it had already undergone significant repairs at 10 and 12 miles, involving critical components of the hybrid system.
“Every issue we’ve had with this car isn’t mechanical - it’s not the transmission, it’s not the wheels falling off - it’s all electrical components,” Phillips said.
The problems began manifesting through various glitches affecting the navigation system, backup cameras, crash detection system, and steering controls.
Highway incident sparks safety concerns
The situation reached a critical point in May 2025 when Phillips’ wife, Carly, experienced a complete power loss while driving in the fast lane of I-75.
“Thank God my son wasn’t in the car,” Phillips said.
His wife managed to safely navigate to the shoulder despite limited steering and brake power.
In September, Stellantis reported a safety recall of 91,787 U.S.-market Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vehicles. The recall cites a software error that could lead to loss of drive power.
Legal battle and arbitration
The father began looking into Michigan’s Lemon Law, which has led the family to go through multiple stages of legal proceedings.
The first arbitration happened in April 2024, which ruled in favor of FCA, citing warranty coverage and resolved issues. However, the second arbitration sided with the family following the reported shutdown on I-75.
FCA’s response to the Phillips’ amended complaint asked for a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Ongoing impact
Since May 2025, the vehicle has remained at a dealership 45 minutes from the Phillips’ home.
Their local Jeep dealer declined to service the vehicle due to its complicated history, the father said.
Meanwhile, the family continues to pay approximately $1,000 monthly in lease payments and insurance for a vehicle they cannot use.
“For us to lose that money as a middle-class family – I work full time, my wife’s part-time - we can’t take a $10,000 hit like that,” Phillips said, referring to the potential loss they’d face if they traded in the vehicle.
Stellantis Response
Stellantis has acknowledged the broader issue through a statement: “The safety of our customers is a top priority, and the Company is actively deploying a remedy for this campaign. FCA US is voluntarily recalling an estimated 91,787 U.S.-market vehicles to update their hybrid control processor (HCP) software.”
What’s next
The timing is particularly crucial for the Phillips family, who are expecting their second child.
They maintain they’re not interested in further repairs, seeking instead what they term a “fair repurchase” of the vehicle.