The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often result in the vehicles not restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing issues related to a “loss of motive power” caused by electrical problems that lead to engine shutdowns with inconsistent restart capabilities.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints detailing incidents of 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.
The NHTSA noted that many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine shuts off, often while driving at low speeds, which can cause the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
No injuries related to this malfunction have been reported, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of crashes.