The US Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing unexpected engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are suffering from a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down, with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received about 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group’s 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints noted that the engine would turn off unexpectedly while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, the NHTSA reported.
So far, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis confirmed it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to a string of challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also opened 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 bug that heightened crash risks.