The U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into around 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) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing issues related to a sudden loss of power attributed to electrical problems, which can lead to engine shutdown and intermittent restart issues.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in the vehicles manufactured 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 engines shut off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicles to shift into park and automatically engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has begun a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as all of its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also announced a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software defect that raised the risk of crashes.