The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into roughly 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power,” primarily attributed to electrical issues leading to engine shutdowns with only intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation noted receiving 80 complaints from consumers about engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC’s (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicated that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, with the gear shifting to park and the emergency brake engaging automatically.
As of now, there have been no reports of injuries associated with this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis stated that they are fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram reported declining sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a separate recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company issued a recall for over 1 million vehicles across North America due to a software defect that raised the risk of crashes.