The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating 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) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” caused by electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns, with intermittent ability to restart.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. The affected models are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe instances where the engine unexpectedly shuts off, often while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection with this issue, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may 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 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Furthermore, in June, the company issued a recall for over 1 million vehicles in North America following the discovery of a software bug that raised the risk of crashes.