The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” related to electrical problems that can cause the engine to shut down, with only intermittent chances of restart.
The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in the affected Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off while driving at low speeds, with the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries related to the engine issues, prompting the NHTSA to launch a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has confirmed its cooperation with the investigation.
This latest issue adds to the troubles faced by Stellantis, with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experiencing a decline in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million North American vehicles due to a software glitch that increased the likelihood of crashes.