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 facing an unexpected “loss of motive power caused by electrical issues that lead to the engine shutting down intermittently.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles made by Stellantis, which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints indicate that the engine can shut off while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported related to this issue, and the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the difficulties faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could elevate the risk of an accident.