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 sudden engine stalls that frequently leave the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that can lead to engine shutdowns with inconsistent restart capabilities.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints describe incidents where the engine shuts off, often while the vehicle is traveling at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle unintentionally shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
There have been no reported injuries connected to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall of the affected vehicles. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This inquiry adds to recent challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all experienced a drop in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles across North America due to a software issue that heightened crash risks.