The U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into 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) identified that 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are particularly affected by an unexpected “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues, prompting engine shutdowns with occasional restart failures.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. According to the NHTSA, numerous complaints indicate that the engines tend to turn off while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to automatically switch into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction. The NHTSA’s preliminary investigation could pave the way for a potential recall. Stellantis has communicated its commitment to cooperating fully with the investigation.
This 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 launched a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles in North America were recalled due to a software flaw that raised crash risks.