(NewsNation) — Jeep owners recently reported seeing advertisements for an extended warranty pop up as they started their cars and each time they hit the brakes.
Stellantis, which owns Jeep, said the ad pop-up was a glitch and would have software teams fix the issue.
“This is an isolated incident affecting fewer than ten vehicles at this time,” a spokesperson from Stellantis said.
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According to an article from Wired Magazine, Stellantis did admit it shows in-vehicle promotions to other drivers. Dodge owners start getting ads after 60 days of purchase, offering an extensive warranty package.
The automaker said that, on average, customers get two in-vehicle messages a year containing safety, maintenance or marketing information.
Meanwhile, safety experts say any kind of in-car screen pop-up can be dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published guidance more than a decade ago suggesting that any image or video that shows up on console screens unrelated to driving and that requires reading “interferes with a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle.”
Experts say in-vehicle advertisements could become the new normal as automakers look to keep cars affordable for consumers.
