The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that the models affected include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. These vehicles are reportedly experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power because of electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down, sometimes with an intermittent ability to restart.”
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engine from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints highlight that the engine would unexpectedly turn off, frequently while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
At this time, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, which has reported declining sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that increased the risk of a crash.