The US Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 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) revealed that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing an unexpected “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down with sporadic ability to restart.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints highlighting engine stalls and power failures in these Stellantis-made vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine turns off unexpectedly, often when the vehicle is moving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle switching into park and engaging the emergency brake. The NHTSA has reported no injuries associated with this issue and is conducting a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all experienced a decline in sales during the second quarter. Earlier in the month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, more than 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software bug that raised crash risk.