The US Department of Transportation has initiated 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) highlighted that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are affected by a loss of power attributed to electrical issues that can lead to engine shutdown, with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding power loss and engine stalls in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicated that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, often while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
As of now, no injuries linked to this problem have been reported, prompting the NHTSA to commence a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the recent challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation on 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America after discovering a software issue that could increase the risk of accidents.