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 result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. The investigation was prompted by issues related to a “loss of motive power” caused by electrical problems that lead to engine shutdown, with intermittent restarting capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints about engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles. The units in question are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would shut off while the vehicle was moving at slow speeds. In these cases, the vehicle could unexpectedly shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction. The NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation, which could potentially lead to a recall of the affected vehicle models. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation comes at a challenging time for Stellantis, as the company reported declining sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, more than 1 million vehicles were recalled in North America due to a software glitch that increased the risk of crashes.