The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC’s (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, prompting the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported related to the defect, but the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation comes as further negative news for Stellantis, which has seen declining sales for its brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened crash risk.