The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating about 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) has indicated that the affected vehicles, including 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, are experiencing an unexpected “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down, with intermittent capabilities for restarting.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are fitted with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
According to the NHTSA, many complaints reported that the vehicles’ engines would turn off while driving at low speeds, with instances of the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
No injuries have been reported related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that might result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another challenge for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands all saw declines in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government commenced a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million North American vehicles after a software glitch was identified that could heighten the risk of crashes.