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 that often result in the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” because of electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns, with intermittent capacity to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints describe instances where the engine shuts off, often while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds. In such cases, the vehicle shifts into park and applies the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
No injuries have been reported related to these malfunctions, and 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 adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as the company has reported declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, Stellantis had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that heightened the risk of crashes.