The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing sudden engine stalls, often failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues, leading to engine shutdowns with sporadic restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and loss of power in vehicles produced by Stellantis. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries related to this malfunction have been reported, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could potentially result in a vehicle recall. Stellantis is reportedly fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also launched a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that heightened the risk of a crash.