The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls that often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power,” which is linked to electrical problems causing engine shutdowns and intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalling and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are powered by the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints indicate that the engine may shut off, especially at low speeds, with the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, as noted by the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the automaker had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that increased the risk of accidents.