The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing sudden engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles not being able to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the affected vehicles include 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. The issue is attributed to electrical problems that lead to a sudden “loss of motive power,” causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many of the complaints indicate that the engine would turn off while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported from this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was started for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten crash risks.