The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating 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) identified that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are suffering from a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down intermittently.
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 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines produced by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
According to the NHTSA, numerous complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine can turn off, sometimes while at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of this issue, but the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation that might result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all declined in the second quarter of the year. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over a million vehicles in North America after a software flaw was discovered that could elevate the risk of crashes.