The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an investigation into roughly 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs may be experiencing a sudden loss of power, attributed to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent restart capabilities.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, specifically those equipped with the FCA 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints indicate that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, frequently while driving at low speeds, leading to the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
So far, no injuries related to this malfunction have been reported, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation which may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have reported declining sales during the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was also launched for 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company was required to recall over 1 million North American vehicles due to a software issue that could increase crash risks.