The US 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 often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power caused by electrical issues that result in engine shutdowns with an intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, 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 while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This latest issue adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported declining sales in the second quarter.
Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that raised the likelihood of accidents.