The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have reported sudden engine stalls, with many vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a significant “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing engine shutdowns, with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
The NHTSA noted that many complaints indicated the engine would turn off, frequently while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
No reported injuries have resulted from this issue, and the NHTSA’s preliminary investigation could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has informed Quartz that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the mounting challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of crashes.