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 frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues, which can cause the engines to shut down and restart intermittently.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received over 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and loss of power related to these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the vehicles’ engines would turn off unexpectedly, particularly while driving at low speeds, resulting in the gear shifting to park and the emergency brake being applied, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries linked to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands all experienced declining sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, Stellantis was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could heighten the risk of accidents.