The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation on Monday into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden loss of power, attributed to electrical issues that lead to engine shutdown, with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints report that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is in motion at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another challenge for Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands decreased during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised crash risk.