The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs over issues related to sudden engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles not being able to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power,” attributed to electrical problems causing the engine to shut down with an inconsistent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine stalls and power losses in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, often while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this issue, leading the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that may prompt a recall. Stellantis has stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined 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 heightened the risk of crashes.