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 often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that can cause the engines to shut down, sometimes with an inconsistent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss in the affected Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many of the complaints detail instances where the engine would turn off unexpectedly, particularly while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and the emergency brake being activated.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the recent challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram experienced downturns in the second quarter. Earlier this month, there was also a recall investigation initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened the risk of crashes.