The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating 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 issue is primarily affecting the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing a “loss of motive power due to electrical concerns” that results in the engine shutting down with intermittent capacity to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, all of which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many complaints describe instances where the engine would unexpectedly shut off, particularly while driving at low speeds. In such cases, the vehicle would shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported linked to the engine malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenging period for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported declining sales in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, while in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that raised the risk of crashes.