The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing sudden engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down unpredictably, with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 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, many complaints indicate that the engine would turn off, often while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries tied to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis announced that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America after identifying a software bug that could elevate the risk of a crash.