The U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues related to sudden engine stalls, which often lead to the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power attributable to electrical problems, which causes the engine to shut down with occasional difficulty in restarting.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. These vehicles are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines produced by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
The NHTSA noted, “Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.”
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall more than 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that increased the risk of crashes.