The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is looking into around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls that frequently result in the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the issue mainly involves 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are facing a sudden loss of 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 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in the vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. These models feature the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines produced by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints highlight that the engine would unexpectedly shut off, often at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced a downturn in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could elevate the risk of crashes.