The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that the affected vehicles include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. These vehicles face a sudden loss of power related to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down and may intermittently restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicate that the engine turns off while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting to park and engaging the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported connected to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that might lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation.
This latest development adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government began investigating a recall for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over one million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened the risk of accidents.