The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing unexpected engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical concerns leading to engine shutdowns with intermittent restart capability.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers 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 indicate that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving slowly, causing it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to this issue, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This situation represents another setback for Stellantis, as sales for its brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram fell in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began 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 glitch that increased crash risk.