The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation concerning approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to experience sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing issues related to a sudden loss of power due to electrical problems, resulting in engine shutdown and intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, all of which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine can shut off unexpectedly, often while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised the risk of crashes.