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) identified that certain 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues, resulting in engine shutdowns with occasional restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are outfitted with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC’s (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints report scenarios where engines turn off unexpectedly, often while moving at slow speeds, causing the vehicles to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been linked to these malfunctions, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles saw declines in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also opened a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America following the discovery of a software flaw that could increase crash risks.