The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reported to experience sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, both of which may experience a sudden loss of power due to electrical issues, leading to engine shutdowns with inconsistent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-made vehicles, which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints describe instances where the engine would unexpectedly shut off, sometimes while the vehicle was moving 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 linked to these engine issues, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could eventually result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to a string of challenges for Stellantis, as the sales of its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers began, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened crash risks.