Major Jeep recall impacts Hawaii rental business as fire risk prompts safety concerns

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A nationwide recall affecting more than 1 million Jeep vehicles is raising safety concerns for drivers, including some in Hawaii.

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The recall involves certain 2021 through 2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models equipped with an electric hydraulic power steering pump. Federal safety officials say a defect in the system could cause an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire even when the engine is turned off.

Dozens of vehicles nationwide have reported malfunctions, including fires. So far, no incidents have been reported in Hawaii.

For local rental company Cabin Fever Campers, the recall is already taking a financial toll.

Owner Wilson Rodrigues said four of the company’s Jeeps, which are rented out through the car sharing platform Turo, are affected.

“It feels like we kind of just got laid off in a way because we went from having a full job or full bookings to having only half of them,” Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues said having half of his Jeep fleet sidelined has significantly impacted business.

“It’s the steering wheel. There’s some cables inside that can cause a fire,” he said while showing one of the recalled vehicles.

Beyond lost bookings, Rodrigues said storing the recalled vehicles has created another challenge.

“It’s really a hassle because we need to park them somewhere safe where we know we’re not putting anyone in danger,” he said. “Most hotels won’t take the cars because of the VIN.”

He estimates the recall is costing the business between $6,000 and $8,000 each month in lost revenue.

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“Just on this recall, we’re probably losing anywhere from 6 to 8,000 every month,” Rodrigues said. “It’s a big chunk of our income every month.”

One recalled Jeep has already been sitting idle for nearly a week, and Rodrigues fears repairs could take months.

“It’s been stuck here for almost a week now, and it’s going to be here for the next two or three months and we don’t know what to do,” he said.

Even once repairs are available, Rodrigues expects long wait times at dealerships because of the number of affected vehicles.

“The Jeep dealerships are going to be so packed for months on end,” he said. “Think about how many people are going to be lined up for weeks and weeks and months on end to get this fixed.”

Despite the setback, Rodrigues said the company’s camper van business has helped keep operations afloat.

Cabin Fever Campers also rents camper vans that allow visitors to stay overnight with built-in sleeping areas and kitchens.

“This is honestly what right now has been saving our business,” Rodrigues said. “People can come and spend the night in one of these.”

Rodrigues said Jeep has not provided an exact timeline for repairs, leaving business owners like him waiting for answers.

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