The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is conducting an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reported to be experiencing sudden engine stalls, with difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the models affected include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are facing issues with a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems that can lead the engine to shut down, intermittently failing to restart.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-made vehicles, which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints detail incidents where the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, prompting it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to the malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another hurdle for Stellantis, as the sales of its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Furthermore, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million North American vehicles after identifying a software bug that could elevate the risk of accidents.