The US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is launching an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls, which often prevent the vehicles from restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 2022 RAM 1500 trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are suffering from abrupt “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that cause the engines to shut down, with sporadic ability to restart afterwards.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints related to engine stalls and power loss in these vehicles, which are powered by Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
“Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off, frequently while driving at slow speeds, causing the vehicle to shift into park and activate the emergency brake,” according to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to this malfunction, and the NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation that may result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
This investigation adds to the challenges faced by Stellantis, as the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands all experienced decreased sales in the second quarter.
Earlier this month, a recall investigation was launched concerning 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 heighten the risk of a crash.