The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs for issues involving sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” due to electrical problems that lead to engine shutdowns and intermittent restarts.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss associated with these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC’s (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicated that the vehicles’ engines would turn off while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicles shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been linked to these malfunctions, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis, the manufacturer of these vehicles, has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened crash risks.