The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to experience sudden engine stalls and difficulty restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing issues leading to a “loss of motive power” due to electrical problems, causing the engines to shut down with sporadic restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers about these engine stalls and power loss in vehicles made by Stellantis, which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints allege that the engines shut off unexpectedly, particularly at low speeds, ultimately causing the vehicles to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been linked to the defect, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This development adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all declined during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that posed an increased risk of accidents.