The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the affected models include 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing a sudden loss of power attributed to electrical issues causing engine shutdowns, along with intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has documented 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power concerning these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, all of which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints indicate that the engine unexpectedly shuts off, often while the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, which results in the vehicle shifting into park mode and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries from these issues, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may lead to a potential recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined during the second quarter. Earlier in the month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Moreover, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened crash risks.