The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reportedly experiencing sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent capacity to restart afterward.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group’s 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, several complaints indicate that the vehicles’ engines abruptly turn off, particularly while moving at slow speeds. In these incidents, vehicles would automatically shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported linked to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may lead to a vehicle recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this inquiry.
This investigation adds to the recent challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter of the year. Earlier in the month, the government began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software defect that raised crash risks.