The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues involving sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickups and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems that cause the engine to shut down and occasionally fail to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. These affected models are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines developed by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
According to the NHTSA, numerous complaints indicate that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, particularly when the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, resulting in the vehicle automatically shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation, which may ultimately result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges Stellantis faces, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all recorded decreasing sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of accidents.