The US Department of Transportation revealed on Monday that it is probing around 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs due to reports of sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are facing a sudden “loss of motive power” attributed to electrical issues that cause the engines to shut down with sporadic ability to restart.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding these engine issues in vehicles produced by Stellantis, which utilize the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many of the complaints highlight instances where the engine shuts off, often while the vehicle is moving at low speeds, resulting in the vehicle shifting into park and activating the emergency brake.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries linked to this issue, prompting the NHTSA to initiate a preliminary investigation that may potentially result in a recall. Stellantis has stated that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation comes amidst challenging times for Stellantis, as sales for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all decreased in the second quarter. Earlier this month, a recall investigation was also launched concerning 94,000 Jeep Wranglers, and in June, the company recalled over 1 million vehicles in North America due to a software defect that could heighten the risk of accidents.