The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to experience sudden engine stalls and difficulty restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that certain 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden loss of power due to electrical issues that can lead to engine shutdowns with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported linked to this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for its brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of accidents.