The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, often accompanied by difficulties in restarting the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are reportedly experiencing a “loss of motive power due to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down temporarily.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine stalls and loss of power affecting vehicles produced 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 cuts off unexpectedly, particularly while driving at low speeds, with the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake automatically, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries related to this issue have been reported, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis confirmed that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as the company experienced a decline in sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter of the year. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that heightened the risk of accidents.