The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is examining around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down with sporadic ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has recorded 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-produced vehicles. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, especially while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, with the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, leading the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles across North America due to a software glitch that increased the risk of crashes.