The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs following reports of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent them from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are suffering from sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restarting capabilities.”
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power losses in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints note that the engine would turn off while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the difficulties faced by Stellantis, which has reported declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could elevate crash risks.