The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday 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) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a “loss of motive power owing to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down, with intermittent capability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints highlight incidents where the engine shuts off unexpectedly, particularly at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this issue, but the NHTSA’s preliminary investigation could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis, the manufacturer, stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced declining sales in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, a government recall investigation was initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software glitch that could heighten crash risk.