The U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” reportedly linked to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with an unpredictable capacity to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles produced by Stellantis, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, often when the vehicle is moving at a slow speed, leading it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries associated with this engine malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This issue adds to the growing challenges for Stellantis, as brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 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 heightened the risk of crashes.