The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues leading to engine shutdowns, with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power failures in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many of the complaints involve the engine shutting off while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated its commitment to fully cooperate with the investigation.
This latest inquiry adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands reported declining sales in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of crashes.