The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is conducting an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often leave the vehicles unable to restart.
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 caused by electrical issues, leading to engine shutdowns and inconsistent restart capabilities.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe situations where the engine would unexpectedly shut off, frequently while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to switch into park mode and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis, the manufacturer, has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all experienced decreased sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Furthermore, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software error that raised the risk of accidents.