The US Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are facing issues with sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are encountering an unexpected “loss of motive power” due to electrical problems that cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent difficulties in restarting.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalling and power loss in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engines shut off, often when the vehicles are moving at low speeds, and that the vehicles shift into park while applying the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries related to these malfunctions, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government launched a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of accidents.