The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls and difficulty restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down, along with intermittent functionality to restart.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints have indicated that the vehicles’ engines shut off, particularly while driving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries associated with this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as the company has reported declining sales across its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Furthermore, earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could elevate crash risks.