The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs experiencing sudden engine stalls that often prevent restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified issues in the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, linked to electrical problems causing unexpected engine shutdowns and intermittent restart failures.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 80 consumer complaints detailing engine stalls and loss of power in these vehicles, which are equipped with Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC’s (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines. Many complaints mentioned the engine would shut off while driving at slow speeds, automatically shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.
No injuries have been reported due to the malfunctions. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that could potentially lead to a recall. Stellanis, the manufacturer, confirmed its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellanis, which has seen declining sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software bug that could increase crash risks.