The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power,” attributed to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down with sporadic capabilities to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has documented 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-branded vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints reported that the engine would shut off while traveling at slow speeds, leading the vehicle to switch into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as its brands—Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram—suffered declining sales in the second quarter.
Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.