The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls, which often lead to the inability to restart the vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the models affected are the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power linked to electrical problems that cause the engine to shut down, with varying success in restarting.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe incidents where the engine shuts off while driving at low speeds, with the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries related to this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis, the parent company, confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software defect that raised safety concerns regarding potential crashes.