Power box on 4xe

[New4xeguy]

I was very careful in my wording to not imply any hint of legal action, because I didn’t want them to clam up and stop talking to me. Currently I’m seeking some kind of compensation. The lady kept saying that I didn’t need any because I didn’t pay for it. I’d say, but you guys advertised it and even confirmed that it was included in a personal email to me after I ordered it. We’ll see, but the Power Box was a factor in my ordering a 2024 instead of a 2023. It wasn’t the only factor, but it was a factor.

If you make any progress or get any additional info, please report back. I’m at a loss. Even my dealer was assuming we’d be fine and just need to buy the powerbox itself at some point. He thought there was just a supply chain problem for that, not the under the hood hardware.

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[TheBirdie72]

I have a gasser, not a 4xe, so had to look this up to see exactly what it was…

Pretty cool! Definitely a plus if you can get one! ?

 

[BigMaCro]

This is a bad move, Jeep. They must be trying to work through stock of the old version of the IDCM.

 

[JesseT]

I finally heard back from someone. She told me that the Power Box is incompatible with the Willys and Sport S because they are not set up with bidirectional charging. This is what I know a lot of people feared. I told her it was horrible that they did a bait and switch since it was advertised as on all trims, even up until last week and people were making expensive decisions based on that information. I thought I remember seeing some Willys and Sport S owners on this forum saying that they got one, even though it wasn’t on their window sticker. They really need to make an announcement at this point to make it obvious, because there are a lot of interviews and press releases out there that say the opposite of what the situation truly is. People deciding between the 2023 and 2024 models need to know.

Oh, for crying out loud. I ordered my Willys 4xe in June and it's supposed to be arriving next week finally. I went with the Willys instead of the Rubicon because while the Rubicon has some features that would be nice to have (front locker, factory sway bar disconnect, available front facing camera), they weren't must-have enough for me and my use case to warrant the price difference. The power box though? I had plans for that. That would have tipped me over to the Rubicon. They would have sold me a higher price-point vehicle if they'd just been honest.

So now when my Willys comes in next week I'm gonna see if the dealer has a higher trim 4xe on the lot so I can test power box compatibility with the Willys. If it's not compatible I'm gonna scrub the whole deal and then have to make the choice between a) placing an order for the Rubicon and waiting another 8-12 weeks to pay thousands more for something that was supposed to be included with the vehicle I ordered in the first place or b) deciding that this is not the kind of bullshit I want to reward with my hard-earned money and try my luck with a different manufacturer.

 

[New4xeguy]

Oh, for crying out loud. I ordered my Willys 4xe in June and it's supposed to be arriving next week finally. I went with the Willys instead of the Rubicon because while the Rubicon has some features that would be nice to have (front locker, factory sway bar disconnect, available front facing camera), they weren't must-have enough for me and my use case to warrant the price difference. The power box though? I had plans for that. That would have tipped me over to the Rubicon. They would have sold me a higher price-point vehicle if they'd just been honest.

So now when my Willys comes in next week I'm gonna see if the dealer has a higher trim 4xe on the lot so I can test power box compatibility with the Willys. If it's not compatible I'm gonna scrub the whole deal and then have to make the choice between a) placing an order for the Rubicon and waiting another 8-12 weeks to pay thousands more for something that was supposed to be included with the vehicle I ordered in the first place or b) deciding that this is not the kind of bullshit I want to reward with my hard-earned money and try my luck with a different manufacturer.

Let us know what happens, especially if you’re able to try a powerbox on the Willys you ordered.

 

[JesseT]

Let us know what happens, especially if you’re able to try a powerbox on the Willys you ordered.

I will absolutely report back.

Of note, I downloaded a copy of their press release on 7/30, when I first started hearing rumblings about window stickers not showing the power box, to cover my hind parts because it said the power box is available on all Wrangler 4xe models. I just downloaded the same press release today and it says it's available on "select Wrangler 4xe models."

Edit to add: August 6th is the day it stopped being listed in the "standard features" section of the build tool on Jeep's website for the Willys 4xe. It was there on the 5th.

 

[El Hefe]

I recently bought a 2024 Willys 4xe and it came with a powerbox. It doesn’t work. I tried it on another guy’s 2024 Willys and it didn’t work. Then tried it on a 2024 Rubicon and it worked.

 

[JesseT]

I recently bought a 2024 Willys 4xe and it came with a powerbox. It doesn’t work. I tried it on another guy’s 2024 Willys and it didn’t work. Then tried it on a 2024 Rubicon and it worked.

That is some grade A manure right there. I'd contact Jeep Cares and try to file a warranty claim on your IDCM...see if it'll force their hand.

 

[Scotts Reviews]

I just took delivery of a Willys last night. We were negotiating on the price of the box to order on when came in on the 29th. They are around $650.
WTH everyone said it would work.

 

[Scotts Reviews]

Just read the manual. “Off Board Panel - If Equipped ………. ?

 

[Bzinsky]

I’d be furious in this situation. While it’s not as good as a powerbox, keep in mind that you can hardwire an inverter to the 12volt battery and it is similar in function.

Not quite as efficient or powerful as the powerbox, but it does work well.

 

[Drewbacca]

I will absolutely report back.

Of note, I downloaded a copy of their press release on 7/30, when I first started hearing rumblings about window stickers not showing the power box, to cover my hind parts because it said the power box is available on all Wrangler 4xe models. I just downloaded the same press release today and it says it's available on "select Wrangler 4xe models."

Edit to add: August 6th is the day it stopped being listed in the "standard features" section of the build tool on Jeep's website for the Willys 4xe. It was there on the 5th.

That was the day I contacted support and sent them numerous pictures of their current website and demanded to have my question escalated. That morning it was there and it had been changed by the evening. I don’t blame them for that, but they really needed to make an announcement. It wasn’t just them website either, I had actually called and spoken to someone who emailed me a few days later, reassuring me that it was on all trims after “researching with my team.” We like to camp, and one of the primary things I want to do with my Jeep is get a small camper and road-trip with it. The power box would have been a huge benefit.

 

[sentience]

Terrible decision. Even as recently as a month ago they were parading around the power box with folks like Jeep’s head of vehicle development, stating that the power box was standard on all 4xes:

9m50s mark

 

[nealzhao]

That is really bad to hear. I just got my Willys and if it not support power box that is sooooo bad. Chrysler need fix it.

 

[JesseT]

Terrible decision. Even as recently as a month ago they were parading around the power box with folks like Jeep’s head of vehicle development, stating that the power box was standard on all 4xes:

9m50s mark

When that video dropped there were definitely already some in production. Someone somewhere knew that some trims weren't going to get the power box.

They over promised up front. Nobody had to say all trims if they were unsure it was going to be on all trims. Also, like I said, if they were just up front about it months ago I'd have probably ordered the Rubicon instead of the Willys. Their loss I guess.

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