The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to incidents of 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 a sudden “loss of motive power attributed to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent capabilities for restarting.”
The investigation comes after the Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles produced by Stellantis. These vehicles are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many reports indicate that the engine would shut off, often while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Currently, there are no reports of injuries linked to the malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could eventually lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised crash risk.