The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is examining approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, with many vehicles struggling to restart afterward.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “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 reported receiving 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints detail instances where the engine would turn off, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, prompting the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported stemming from this malfunction, and the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to a series of setbacks for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, while in June, the company had to initiate a recall of over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened crash risks.