The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are encountering a sudden “loss of motive power because of electrical issues causing the engine to shut down, with intermittent capability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles produced by Stellantis, which are equipped with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine shuts off, often while driving at slow 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 these malfunctions, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This development comes as more negative news for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands decreased in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software glitch that heightened crash risks.