The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation involving approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to sudden engine stalls that frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues, leading to engine shutdowns and intermittent restarting problems.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine can unexpectedly shut off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, causing the transmission to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported related to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales across its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, have declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that raised the risk of crashes.