The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues related to unexpected engine stalls, which 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 encountering a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems that cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which utilize 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, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has communicated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges for Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 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 heightened the risk of crashes.