The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to incidents of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the models under scrutiny include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues, resulting in engine shutdowns and intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has logged 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which contain the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
The NHTSA reported that many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine often shuts off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales figures for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could raise the likelihood of a crash.