Another Wrangler Fire Raises More Questions Than Answers

Camper says Jeep started smoking under the hood before it was engulfed in flames.

Is it our imagination, or are these “mysterious” Jeep Wrangler fires becoming a lot more common?

The latest involves a Wrangler Unlimited that was engulfed in flames at Cape Lookout National Seashore in Harkers Island, North Carolina. According to Carteret County News-Time, the Jeep caught on fire when a woman and her son were driving at the campground.

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Beverly Bursk says she noticed smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. She and her son quickly got out of the Wrangler and waited for help as the Jeep burned. The blaze also set nearby march grass on fire, which was quickly put out by a group of fishermen in the area.

Authorities said they still have no idea what caused the fire. But it certainly raises concerns considering similar reports we’ve covered at JK Forum. In June, we reported on another mysterious Wrangler fire. That stemmed from an electrical malfunction. But in this case, any leads so far have been inconclusive.

These recent incidents seem to beg the question: Is there some common thread that needs to be looked into?

In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into dozens of Jeep Wrangler fires. That resulted in 87,000 Wranglers being recalled worldwide, as detailed in a CBS News report.

We certainly hope these latest fire incidents don’t hint at something of the magnitude of 2012. But if so, we certainly urge everyone involved to err on the side of caution and act sooner than later.