The US 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 issues with restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the affected vehicles, specifically the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical problems leading to engine shutdowns, with inconsistent abilities to restart.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicated that the engine would shut off while the vehicle was moving at slower speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries due to these malfunctions. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation which may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This development adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall more than 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could elevate the risk of crashes.