The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to suddenly stall and, in many cases, fail to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power,” attributed to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with sporadic chances of being restarted.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in the vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. These models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints describe instances where the engine shuts off while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated its full cooperation with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the company has reported declining sales for its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, in the second quarter.
Additionally, earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, Stellantis also had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of accidents.