The law firm of Keller Rohrback says it is “investigating allegations” that the Jeep brand misled buyers about the capabilities of its 4xe plug-in hybrid models. The firm, according to The Drive, points to client complaints that their green positive aspects are properly neutered for months out of the year when the climate gets cold.

Specifically, the allegations surround the 2021-2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, each of which function electric motors and moderately sized battery packs in order to let them to use significantly less fuel and, for quick distances, drive on electric energy alone.

Some owners, even though, are complaining that their automobiles are not reaching the advertised fuel economy or any quantity of electric driving in the winter. These claims are associated to anything named the “Fuel and Oil Refresh Mode” (Type), which the law firm claims, is utilised to shield the engine in cold situations, and make sure that it is inside an acceptable operating window, by operating the engine.

Read: Jeep Wrangler 4xe Engine Shut Down During Driving Linked To Two Accidents

 Jeep 4xe Owners Complaining That EV Mode Doesn’t Work At All In Cold Weather

Indeed, a appear at forums and Reddit threads turns up a quantity of posters who complain that their 4xe automobiles are stuck in the mode. The problems is, the owners claim, that the mode tends to make the engine run consistently, leaving them with out the capacity to drive on electric energy alone.

We have reached out to Jeep for a lot more details on the Type mode and for a statement on the law firm’s investigation. Keller Rohrback, even though, states that the allegations created in these complaints contend that Jeep “misled customers about the functionality of the vehicles’ electric capability, for which consumers paid a premium.”

Indeed, Jeep’s site shows that, that the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe model begins at $60,360, producing it the second most pricey trim that the automaker presented in 2022. Similarly, the Wrangler 4xe begins at $54,735, producing it the third most pricey trim in the variety.

The excellent news is, even though, that there could be a answer. Jeep neighborhood members have deduced that the Type mode stays on till the engine oil has been at a temperature of a lot more than 192 degrees F (88C) for 20 minutes. To help with this, owners can acquire a grille cover from Mopar that assists warm the engine up more rapidly.