The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often leave the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power,” attributed to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in the affected Stellantis 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 unexpectedly, particularly when driving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicles automatically shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, as noted by the NHTSA.
While no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was also opened for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America after discovering a software bug that increased the risk of crashes.