The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 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) has identified that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are prone to a sudden loss of motive power due to electrical issues, resulting in engine shutdowns with intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which utilize the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints note that the engine unexpectedly shuts off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and apply the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to the malfunction, and the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened crash risk.