The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are facing sudden 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 experiencing a sudden loss of power due to electrical issues, which can cause the engine to shut down with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. 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 would turn off, frequently while the vehicle is moving slowly, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced a decline in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a separate recall investigation was launched regarding 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could potentially increase the risk of a crash.