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 and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues, resulting in engine shutdowns with sporadic ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-made vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints detail instances where the engine would turn off, particularly when driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
No injuries have been reported due to the malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands fell in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised crash risks.