The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that can lead to engine shutdown, along with occasional difficulties in restarting.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and power loss in vehicles produced by Stellantis, specifically those equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, multiple complaints indicate that the vehicle engines would shut off unexpectedly, particularly while moving at slow speeds, with instances where the vehicle would shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection with this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales figures for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that increased the risk of a crash.