The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls which often render the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explained that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a significant “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues, which can lead to engine shutdown and intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers about engine stalls and power loss related to these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine can shut off unexpectedly, often while driving 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 reports of injuries stemming from this issue, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has confirmed it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software error that could potentially elevate crash risks.