The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
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 due to electrical issues leading to engine shutdowns with intermittent restarting abilities.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in the vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. The affected models utilize the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle inadvertently shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
As of now, no injuries have been reported due to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has confirmed its full cooperation with the investigative process.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all experienced declining sales during the second quarter. Earlier in the month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened the risk of accidents.