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, which often make the vehicles unable to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the models under scrutiny include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. These vehicles are reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power triggered by electrical issues that lead to the engine shutting down with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints concerning engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints detail incidents where the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, prompting it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries linked to these malfunctions have been reported. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This inquiry adds to a series of challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all registered drops in sales during the second quarter.
Earlier this month, a recall investigation was initiated concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could heighten the risk of a crash.