The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday the initiation of an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to experience sudden engine stalls, frequently rendering the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the models involved in this inquiry include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are facing an unexpected “loss of motive power due to electrical issues” that can cause the engine to shut down and intermittently fail to restart.
A total of 80 consumer complaints have been filed with the Office of Defects Investigation, highlighting concerns over engine stalls and power loss in vehicles produced by Stellantis. The affected vehicles are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Reports suggest that many drivers noticed that their engines would shut off, particularly when moving at slow speeds, leading to an automatic shift into park mode and the application of the emergency brake, as mentioned by the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this defect, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that may lead to a formal recall. Stellantis has communicated to Quartz that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This recruitment marks another setback for Stellantis, as brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have reported declining sales in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month the government began an investigation into a recall of 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was forced to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could increase the risk of a crash.
To underscore the positive aspect, Stellantis’s openness to cooperate with investigative authorities reflects a commitment to addressing consumer safety concerns and potentially improving products, which can lead to enhanced trust from customers in the long run. This proactive approach marks a step towards resolving the current challenges and regaining consumer confidence.
In summary, the NHTSA is investigating serious concerns over sudden engine stalls in specific Ram and Jeep models, while Stellantis faces sales challenges and recalls in the wake of these issues.