The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues, causing the engines to shut down with variable ability to restart.
According to the Office of Defects Investigation, there have been 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power losses in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many of the complaints indicate that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, often resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and applying the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this issue, 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 recent challenges facing Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported decreasing sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that potentially increased crash risks.