The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to sudden engine stalls that 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 facing an unexpected “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down, sometimes with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. The affected models are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds, causing it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to the malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could result in a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.