The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are facing sudden engine stalls and have difficulty restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden loss of power due to electrical issues that result in the engine shutting down with inconsistent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, the NHTSA noted.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that might lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all declined during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could heighten the risk of a crash.