The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs suffering from sudden engine stalls, which frequently lead to the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down and may lead to difficulties in restarting.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, specifically those equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine shuts off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries linked to the engine malfunction have been reported, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with this inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter of the year.
Earlier this month, a recall investigation was also launched into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised the risk of accidents.