The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing sudden engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that certain 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing issues related to electrical malfunctions that lead to a “loss of motive power,” causing the engine to shut down with an intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, which are equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
According to the NHTSA, many complaints detail instances where the engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, with the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction. 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 series of challenges facing Stellantis, as the company has witnessed declining sales across its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier in the month, a recall investigation was initiated for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software issue that could heighten crash risks.