The US Department of Transportation announced that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that certain 2022 models of RAM 1500 pickup trucks and Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems leading to engine shutdowns, which can occur with intermittent ability to restart.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which are outfitted with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off unexpectedly, often while the vehicles were moving at low speeds, causing them to shift into park mode and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been linked to this malfunction as of yet, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated they are fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, which reported declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could increase crash risks.