The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is probing approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls that may prevent the vehicles from restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles include 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are facing sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that cause engine shutdowns with occasional restart failures.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which have the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
The NHTSA noted that many complaints indicate that the engine can turn off while driving at low speeds, potentially causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to the engine malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has communicated that it is fully collaborating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America following the discovery of a software glitch that heightened the risk of accidents.