The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reported to be experiencing sudden engine stalls and are often unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that 2022 RAM 1500 trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs have been experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues, leading to engine shutdown with intermittent restart capability.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.