The U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls that often result in vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” linked to electrical concerns, which cause the engine to shut down with occasional difficulty in restarting.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which feature the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints indicate that the engine can turn off unexpectedly while driving at low speeds, with the vehicle shifting into park mode and activating the emergency brake, as stated by the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the company has reported declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was also launched concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, a recall affecting over 1 million vehicles in North America was initiated due to a software defect that raised crash risks.