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, with many vehicles unable to restart afterward.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) specified that the investigation concentrates on 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs that are experiencing unexpected “loss of motive power” stemming from electrical issues, which can result in the engine shutting down with intermittent restart capability.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 complaints from consumers regarding engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which feature the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group’s 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints describe situations where the engine shuts off, often while driving at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
To date, no injuries have been reported due to the issue, and the NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Stellantis, the parent company, stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, which has already reported declining sales across its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, over 1 million vehicles in North America were recalled due to a software bug that could increase crash risk.