The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation involving approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing engine shutdowns, with occasional ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are fitted with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut down, often while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may lead to a recall. Stellantis, the manufacturer, stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This latest investigation adds to the ongoing challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that increased crash risks.