The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues involving unexpected engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from 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” attributed to electrical problems that can cause the engine to shut down, with inconsistent chances of restarting.
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 Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complainants noted that their vehicle’s engine would shut off while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported as a result of these malfunctions, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis stated that it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for its brands, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, Stellantis was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America following the discovery of a software issue that heightened the potential for crashes.