The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often result in the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are affected by a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that cause engines to shut down, occasionally with the ability to restart intermittently.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalling and power loss in the vehicles produced by Stellantis. The affected models feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints detail instances where the engine would turn off, often while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction, leading the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could culminate in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to a series of setbacks for Stellantis, as sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis had to recall over a million vehicles in North America due to a software flaw that could heighten crash risks.