The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to incidents of sudden engine stalls that often result in the vehicles not restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power attributed to electrical issues, causing the engine to shut down with occasional difficulties in restarting.
So far, 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 Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints describe instances where the vehicle’s engine shut off while traveling at low speeds, leading to the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could result in a recall. Meanwhile, Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, which has seen declining sales for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also started a recall investigation for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that heightened the risk of a crash.