The US Department of Transportation has announced an investigation into approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are experiencing unexpected engine stalls, which often result in the vehicles failing to restart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the affected models include the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs. These vehicles are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” linked to electrical issues that lead to engine shutdowns, with an inconsistent ability to restart afterward.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis vehicles, which are powered by the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine would unexpectedly shut off, often while the vehicle was in motion at low speeds, causing it to shift into park and engage the emergency brake.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported due to these malfunctions, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that could potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
This investigation marks another setback for Stellantis, as sales for brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all declined in the second quarter. Earlier this month, the government also initiated a recall investigation involving 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. In June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software glitch that increased the risk of crashes.