A Monroe County couple, PJ and Carly Phillips, have found themselves embroiled in a legal battle with automaker Stellantis over repeated issues with their leased Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, which reportedly lost power multiple times, resulting in significant safety concerns and numerous visits to the service center.
Since leasing their vehicle in 2023, the Phillipses have faced persistent troubles, including a defective backup camera and a lack of heat, necessitating the SUV to spend approximately eight months at a dealership service center. Despite ongoing repairs, malfunctions continued to arise, with Carly Phillips recounting an incident in May where the vehicle "totally shut off" while she was driving on the freeway, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
According to Michigan's Lemon Law, the couple sought a full refund or a replacement after a reasonable number of repair attempts failed to resolve the ongoing issues. They have been to arbitration with Stellantis twice, winning the second time around, yet faced an unauthorized deductions ruling that has since been vacated, prompting a move to court. A statement obtained by clickondetroit from PJ Phillips conveys the couple's frustration: "I think they want us to get so frustrated that we give up."
The Phillipses aren't alone in their struggles with the Grand Cherokee 4xe; more than 91,000 of these vehicles have been recalled due to a software error that may result in a loss of drive power, as chronicled by the Detroit Free Press. Despite the recall—which includes models from 2022 to 2026—PJ Phillips is still having to pay over $1,000 each month for a car he cannot use, one that's been sitting in a repair shop since the incident.
Amid the couple expecting a second child and the need for reliable transportation heightening, they are seeking what they consider a "fair repurchase" of the vehicle. Stellantis, in response to the sweeping issues, stated that the safety of customers is a top priority and affirmed a commitment to remedy the situation, as per the Detroit Free Press. However, Ron Weiss, an expert in the Lemon Law, mentioned to CBS News Detroit that such cases can be a lengthy process, with varying outcomes that could range from outright denial to vehicle repurchase.
The Phillipses continue to hope for resolution, as the court drama unfolds and the financial pressure of maintaining a non-functional vehicle persists. As PJ Phillips told the Detroit Free Press, "We're asking them to make it right." However, for the moment, they remain in limbo as Stellantis navigates the widespread recall and the specifics of this particular case.
