The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 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 intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine stalls and power losses in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, all of which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Thus far, no injuries have been reported related to the engine malfunction, and the NHTSA’s preliminary investigation may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for their Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was initiated concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened crash risk.