The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, which often prevent vehicles from restarting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are at risk of experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” stemming from electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down and intermittently restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss for these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which utilize the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. According to the NHTSA, many complaints described incidents where the engine would turn off, particularly while driving at reduced speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and applying the emergency brake.
As of now, no injuries have been reported related to this issue, leading the NHTSA to launch a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This situation represents another challenge for Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced a decline in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America after a software glitch was discovered that could elevate the risk of a crash.