The U.S. 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 often make the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that certain 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are encountering electrical issues that lead to a sudden loss of power, resulting in engine shutdowns and intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine can shut off while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, leading to the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries linked to this malfunction have been reported. The NHTSA has commenced a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands have seen a decline in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised crash risks.