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 and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns and intermittent restart capabilities.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints about these engine stalls and power losses in vehicles produced by Stellantis, which include models equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would unexpectedly turn off, often while the vehicle was in motion at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and activate the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
As of now, no injuries have been reported linked to these malfunctions, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may potentially lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This latest issue adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands have all declined in the second quarter. Earlier in the month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could increase the risk of a crash.