The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, with difficulty in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected loss of power stemming from electrical issues that may cause the engine to shut down, with inconsistent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints noting instances of engine stalls and loss of power in vehicles produced by Stellantis, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the engines would turn off, sometimes while the vehicles were moving at slow speeds, causing the transmission to shift into park and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this issue, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary inquiry that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the concerns facing Stellantis, as sales for its brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America after identifying a software glitch that could heighten the risk of a crash.