The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls and difficulties in restarting the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns, with intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding 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.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints describe instances where the vehicle’s engine would turn off while driving at low speeds, with the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
No injuries have been reported related to this issue so far. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may lead to a potential recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the recent challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all experienced a drop in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation affecting 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could heighten the risk of crashes.