The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns, with intermittent capabilities to restart.
The investigation follows 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicate that the engine turns off unexpectedly, often while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed its commitment to cooperating fully with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges currently faced by Stellantis, as sales for its brands—Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram—declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers was also launched, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised crash risk concerns.