The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing sudden engine stalls and difficulties in 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 due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capability.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which are equipped with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, several complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while the vehicle is traveling at slow speeds, leading to the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis, the company behind these brands, has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to a string of challenges for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could heighten the risk of a crash.