The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties with restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing unexpected “loss of motive power caused by electrical issues that lead to engine shutdown and intermittent restart capability.”
The Office of Defects Investigation received around 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe that the engines shut off unexpectedly while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicles automatically shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
There have been no reported injuries related to these issues, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed its full cooperation with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for its brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram fell during the second quarter.
Earlier this month, authorities began a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could potentially lead to crashes.