The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of 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 affected by a sudden loss of power resulting from electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down, with only intermittent capability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints detailing instances of engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which utilize the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines produced by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
According to the NHTSA, many complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine would turn off unexpectedly, sometimes while moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram declined in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government 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 malfunction that raised crash risks.