The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are facing issues with sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing an unexpected “loss of motive power due to electrical issues leading to engine shutdowns with intermittent restart capabilities.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles. The models in question are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would unexpectedly turn off while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
To date, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram saw a decline in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that potentially increased the risk of a crash.