Did they not use heavy enough wire, or is the pump pulling more power than it should? Why not the old belt driven system? My Subaru has electric power steering which isn’t hydraulic, and I found this blurb on advantages which explains the possible main reasoning being to meet CAFE standards.
The main advantages include:
- Better fuel efficiency (no power drain from hydraulic pumps)
- Less maintenance (no fluid to change or leaks to fix)
- Adaptive assistance (more help at low speeds, less at highway speeds)
- Reduced vehicle weight
Your Subaru’s EPS adjusts steering assistance based on your speed and how you’re turning the wheel. The system uses sensors to detect steering force, then a computer decides how much help you need based on your driving conditions.
https://cartipsdaily.com/subaru-electric-power-steering-problems
The company said the vehicles could catch fire even when turned off.
By Mary Prenon
Stellantis North America, formerly known as the Chrysler Corporation, has issued a massive recall of more than 1 million 2021–2025 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that could catch fire—even when turned off—and is warning owners to park outside.
According to a report posted on June 9 by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring in affected vehicles may overheat and cause a fire, despite the ignition being in the “off” position.
Owners are also advised to park away from any structures until repairs have been made. Dealers will inspect and replace faulty parts as necessary, free of charge. Notification letters to owners are expected to be mailed July 9.
In the meantime, Jeep owners can contact the automaker’s customer service department at 800-853-1403, using the recall number “21D.” Vehicle Identification Numbers involved in the recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 11.
The company became aware of the potential danger and investigated fires between May 2023 and April 2024 in certain Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models. However, the investigation was closed due to the low rate of occurrence.
The probe was reopened in August 2024 following an increasing number of incidents. A month later, the NHTSA Office of Defect Investigations began its own investigation. While the investigations continued, the automaker attempted to duplicate the failure mode in bench testing, but was unsuccessful.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the company continued its work to determine the root cause of the problem, including using scans, X-rays, material analysis, and investigations of design and performance differences. In April 2026, the automaker finally confirmed a loose electrical connection could result in melting that connection and ultimately lead to a vehicle fire.
As of May this year, Stellantis is aware of 63 customer assistance reports, zero warranty claims, and 72 field reports. The company said it is not aware of any accidents; however, there was one injury potentially related to the issue.
In its May 2026 report, Gadget Review said that U.S. vehicle recalls have hit a “disturbing milestone,” with 11.6 million vehicle recalls during the first quarter alone. The Los Angeles-based national product reviewer indicated this is the highest quarterly total in recent years.
The report shows that electronics and vehicle cameras caused 67 percent of the recalls, and that Ford led the first-quarter list with 4.3 million vehicles recalled for electrical defects. It added that during that time frame, Toyota recalled more than 550,000 Highlanders for faulty seatbacks, while Hyundai’s Palisade third row seat defect involved a fatality of a young child.
Nissan has also dealt with issues involving engine failures that could cause fires.
According to the report, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Stellantis (Chrysler), and Nissan accounted for more than 92 percent of all first-quarter recalls.
It also states that as vehicles continue to become more sophisticated, over-the-air updates can now handle nearly half of all recall repairs. During the first quarter, some 5.7 million vehicles recalled could have software issues resolved over the air, without the need to visit a dealer.