The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport found that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon model from the automaker Stellantis exceeded the styrene standard in a new car indoor air quality survey conducted last year. Styrene is a raw material used in the manufacture of plastic resins and can potentially affect the skin, mucous membranes, and central nervous system with long-term exposure.
On the 6th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revealed that, among the 19 types of vehicles newly manufactured and sold last year, 18 models met the recommended standards for harmful substances. The models surveyed included the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia EV3 and EV9, GM Korea GMC Sierra, BMW i5 eDrive40, Mercedes-Benz GLB250, GLC300, EQE350, EQA250, Toyota Prius and Crown Hybrid, Alphard Hybrid, Volvo S60 and XC60B5 AWD, and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
The styrene measurement for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was found to be 2072㎍/㎥, significantly higher than the recommended standard of 220㎍/㎥. Stellantis Korea suspects that during the production process of removable hardtop components, the proper temperature of 143 degrees Celsius was not maintained, causing styrene to remain unreacted.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recommended that Stellantis Korea improve its temperature control system during the production process and strengthen its standard operating procedures. It plans to establish corrective measures for vehicles already sold in the market and conduct follow-up investigations to verify improvements.
Stellantis Korea stated that it has established monitoring plans, including thorough management of temperature records during vehicle production and immediate pattern analysis in case of temperature imbalances. The company plans to send notification messages to customers who have already purchased the model to inform them of the corrective actions.
Kim Hong-mok, head of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Mobility Vehicle Bureau, noted, "The management of indoor air quality in new vehicles has a direct impact on the health of passengers," adding, "We will continue strict investigations and thorough management to ensure that manufacturers adhere to the recommended standards."