The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing an unexpected “loss of motive power linked to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down, with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-produced vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints detail incidents where the engine shut off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to these malfunctions. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation which may lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed it is fully cooperating with this investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram decreased in the second quarter. Earlier in the month, the government also started a recall investigation involving 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.