The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues of sudden engine stalls, with many vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing unexpected “loss of motive power,” attributed to electrical issues that could cause the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine stalls and power losses in the vehicles produced by Stellantis, which utilize the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine may abruptly shut off while driving at low speeds, leading the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries related to this issue have been reported. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may prompt a recall. Stellantis has indicated that it is fully cooperating with this inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram saw a decline in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers was initiated, and in June, over 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software bug that raised crash risks.