The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden loss of power linked to electrical issues, which can cause the engine to shut down with inconsistent restart capabilities.
The investigation was prompted by 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in the vehicles produced by Stellantis. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints describe situations where the vehicle’s engine unexpectedly shuts off, often while moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park mode and activate the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries related to the engine malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Furthermore, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America because of a software glitch that could heighten crash risks.