The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that have been reported to experience sudden engine stalls, often failing to restart.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the investigation focuses on the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and loss of power in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. These vehicles are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints indicate that the vehicle’s engine would turn off while being driven at low speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and engage the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries linked to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands all declined in the second quarter of the year.
Earlier this month, the government also began a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company was compelled to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could heighten the risk of crashes.