The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday the initiation of an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reportedly experiencing sudden engine stalls and difficulty restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.”
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis vehicles, which are equipped with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines from Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA).
Many of the complaints indicate that the engine shuts off, often while moving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
As of now, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction. The NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has communicated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have declined in the second quarter. Recently, the government also began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.