The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing sudden engine stalls, making it difficult for them to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues” that can cause the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off unexpectedly, often while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenging situation for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over one million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that posed an increased risk of crashes.