The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to issues with sudden engine stalls that often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are experiencing a sudden loss of power stemming from electrical problems that cause the engine to shut down, with only intermittent ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine stalls and power losses in vehicles manufactured by Stellantis. The affected models are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints detail incidents where the engine shut down while the vehicle was moving at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and apply the emergency brake, according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries related to this malfunction have been reported. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which may lead to a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges facing Stellantis, which has reported declining sales for its brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, in the second quarter. Additionally, earlier this month, the government began investigating a recall involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that could increase the risk of accidents.