The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of unexpected engine stalls, which often leave the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that can cause the engine to shut down and only restart intermittently.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints describe scenarios where the vehicle’s engine turns off while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and the emergency brake being applied.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported related to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as the sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that elevated the risk of crashes.