The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing unexpected engine stalls and often fail to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which feature the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, but 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 is another setback for Stellantis, as brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also commenced a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could potentially increase the likelihood of a crash.