Jeep drivers report surprising pop-up ads on their displays and compare them to smart-fridge alerts
Published on Nov 21, 2025 at 8:41 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Nov 24, 2025 at 4:25 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Jeep owners are discovering something unexpected on their infotainment screens.
Instead of the usual startup logo, a few drivers are being met with a full-blown sales pitch.
It’s the kind of digital interruption you’d expect from a smart appliance, not a Grand Cherokee.
And for one owner, the timing and tone of the pop-up made it even stranger.
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Why Jeep drivers are suddenly seeing in-car pop-up ads
A Redditor with a 2022 Grand Cherokee says their SUV didn’t just boot up – it tried to sell them something.
The message offered a $1,500 loyalty bonus toward buying a new Jeep, delivered right on the same screen used for navigation and safety controls.
Even more bizarre – the pop-up ads featured an opt-out path, pointing the driver to a 1-800 number to stop marketing messages.
Except that number wasn’t a privacy tool at all.
It was the generic Stellantis Connect hotline shared by Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat.
A line meant for subscription questions, not instant ad settings.
This is where the real frustration comes in.
Jeep previously addressed similar warranty pop-ups to Car Scoops, calling them a glitch and saying instant opt-outs were the norm.
But this new ad wasn’t a glitch, and the opt-out process was far from easy to use.
And for drivers who already paid for the vehicle, seeing it promote a new model on startup doesn’t land too well.
Drivers are getting fed up with upselling baked into their car
The reaction isn’t just about one ad either – it’s about where this trend is heading.
Car screens aren’t like phones or TVs – they’re becoming a fundamental part of how people drive.
When a sales message interrupts that space, it feels more invasive than if it were any other device.
And unlike Samsung’s Family Hub fridge – which lets owners switch off ads in a simple settings menu – Jeep’s approach leaves drivers with few options.
As connected cars get more features and more screens, owners are drawing a line.
They expect their dashboards to help them drive the car they’re in, not to sell them the next one.
The automaker’s take
A Stellantis spokesperson told SB Media that the pop-up was part of its In-Vehicle Message (IVM) system, which the company says is used to deliver ‘exclusive sales offers, vehicle recalls and vehicle health monitor alerts.’
According to the company, only a select group of owners received this promotion.
It was designed to appear only at startup while the vehicle is stationary, disappearing once the car moves, when the driver taps OK or X, or after 15 seconds.
Stellantis also emphasized that the offer performed as intended.
“Our goal is to deliver the best vehicle experience for our customers. As a result of these efforts, we have seen our customers take advantage of this offer,” they told us.
The company added that owners who don’t want to see marketing messages can permanently opt out by calling 800-777-3600.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
