The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing significant issues related to electrical problems, leading to unexpected engine shutdowns and intermittent restart functionality.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints relating to these engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which feature the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints indicate that the engines have shut off while the vehicles were moving at low speeds, causing them to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, as reported by the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been linked to these malfunctions, but the NHTSA’s preliminary investigation may result in a formal recall. Stellantis has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised crash risks.