The US 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 that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues, causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints suggest that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, particularly while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation represents another setback for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all experienced declining sales during the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government started a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened the risk of crashes.