The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues of unexpected engine stalls and difficulties in restarting the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that specific models, including the 2022 RAM 1500 and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, are facing concerns related to electrical malfunctions that can lead to a sudden loss of power, causing the engine to shut down with sporadic ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints regarding engine shutdowns and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which are outfitted with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints detail instances where the engine turned off unexpectedly, especially at low speeds, with some vehicles shifting into park and applying the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to these malfunctions, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, which has seen a decline in sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government launched a recall investigation 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 raised the risk of accidents.