Thousands of Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans are being recalled because of a battery that can catch fire even when the minivan is turned off.

The recall affects 17,277 Pacificas made between Aug. 5, 2020 and May 2, 2022. Until a repair is finalized, and "out of an abundance of caution," Chrysler owner Stellantis NV warns owners to park the vans outside — away from structures and other vehicles — due to the fire risk.

The automaker also says owners should not charge the minivans, as risk of fire is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted.

Some of the minivans contain a hybrid battery with cells made on an alternative assembly line by supplier LG Energy Solution. Those battery packs "may fail internally, resulting in thermal runaway," documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The defective battery is believed to be inside 1% of the recalled vehicles. Stellantis said it is aware of four Pacificas that have caught fire due to the high-voltage battery and no accidents or injuries related to the problem.

"These incidents occur at a very low frequency, and all have cells produced on an alternative assembly line at LGES with limited production," the NHTSA recall report said of the battery fires.

The fix will involve a software update meant to monitor the 16-kilowatt battery pack's operational status. Dealers will also inspect and, if needed, replace the batteries for free. Stellantis also said it will provide a warranty extension for the battery related to the defect; the warranty term and mileage is unlimited.

Affected customers can expect to receive a notification about service availability this month.

The automaker's plug-in hybrid Jeeps have also faced multiple recalls and warnings to park outside and stop charging in recent years. The frequent problems garnered an apology from Jeep's CEO.

Stellantis axed all of its plug-in hybrids in North America, including the Pacifica, for the 2026 model year. Beyond the series of quality problems for the plug-ins, the automaker also faces easing emissions standards under the Trump administration that made the vehicles less necessary. It now plans to focus more on traditional hybrid powertrains without a plug.

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