The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reportedly facing sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issues are primarily affecting the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. The NHTSA reported a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical concerns causing the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer reports detailing engine stalls and loss of power in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, specifically those equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe instances where the engine shuts off, often while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, and the NHTSA’s investigation may potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has indicated it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of crashes.