The US Department of Transportation announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reported to be experiencing sudden engine stalls, frequently followed by difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues that cause the engine to shut down, often with intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and power loss associated with 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 indicate that the engine would turn off unexpectedly, sometimes while the vehicle was moving at a slow speed, causing it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation comes amid other challenges for Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram all reported decreasing sales figures in the second quarter. Additionally, a recall investigation was recently launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company issued a recall for over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened the risk of accidents.