The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs facing sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer vehicles are suffering from a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent abilities to restart.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicate that the engine would turn off, particularly while driving at slower speeds, and that the vehicle would unexpectedly shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries associated with this malfunction, and the NHTSA has commenced a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to Stellantis’ recent challenges, as the company has experienced declining sales for its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software bug that raised crash risk.