The U.S. 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 frequently prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are suffering from a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that result in the engine shutting down, with intermittent capability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints detail incidents where the engine would turn off while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries have been reported linked to this malfunction, but the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has confirmed its full cooperation with the investigation.
This investigation marks another challenging moment for Stellantis, as the brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram reported a decline in sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could raise the risk of a crash.