The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are facing sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
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 motive power due to electrical issues leading to engine shutdown and intermittent restart capabilities.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine would turn off, often while moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries related to this malfunction have been reported, prompting the NHTSA to commence a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This latest investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software flaw that increased the risk of crashes.