The US Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues, which can lead to the engine shutting down and intermittent restart failures.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received around 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which utilize the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group’s 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, typically while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, prompting the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries related to this issue. The NHTSA’s preliminary investigation could potentially lead to a recall, and Stellantis has commented that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This development adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, which has seen sales declines for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that heightened crash risks.