The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is examining approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls that 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 experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems that can cause the engine to shut down and may allow for intermittent restarts.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power losses in these Stellantis-made vehicles, which are fitted with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complainants indicated that the engine would unexpectedly shut off while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported connected to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation is another setback for Stellantis, which has seen declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall more than 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.