The US Department of Transportation announced that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that frequently result in vehicles not restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the investigation focuses on 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs which have been experiencing a sudden loss of power attributed to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down with sporadic ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, all of which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would stop running, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing it to shift into park mode automatically and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries related to the engine malfunction have been reported, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges for Stellantis, which has already seen a drop in sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also launched a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, more than 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of crashes.