The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” caused by electrical issues that result in engine shutdowns, with intermittent capabilities to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power losses associated with these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints report that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, leading to the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries linked to this malfunction have been reported, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry comes as Stellantis faces additional challenges, with declining sales reported for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that heightened the risk of a crash.