The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is initiating an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reportedly experiencing sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which may face a sudden “loss of motive power” due to electrical issues resulting in engine shutdowns and difficulties in restarting.
So far, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in the affected Stellantis vehicles. These vehicles feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints describe instances where the engine would stop, often while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, leading to the vehicle inadvertently shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
There have been no reported injuries related to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to open a preliminary investigation that could possibly lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands reported falling sales in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government 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 defect that raised crash risks.