The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues related to sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” caused by electrical problems that can lead the engine to shut down and may allow for intermittent restarts.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, some complaints indicate that the engine may turn off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis had to recall more than one million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that raised crash risk.