The US Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues related to sudden engine stalls, which frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is focusing on 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs that are reported to experience a sudden “loss of motive power” stemming from electrical malfunctions that can cause the engine to shut down with intermittent restarting capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in the affected Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while the vehicles were moving at low speeds, causing them to automatically shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also launched a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America after a software issue was identified that could increase the risk of a crash.