NHTSA Investigates Engine Stalls on 2022 HEMI eTorque Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into reports of engine stalls and loss of power in particular 2022 Ram 1500 (DT) pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep® Wagoneer (WS) SUVs. Both models are equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine featuring the eTorque mild-hybrid system.

Overview of the Issue –

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of the NHTSA, has received 80 consumer complaints about these vehicles. The complaints describe instances where the engine shuts off unexpectedly, often while the vehicle is moving at a slow speed. Sometimes, the vehicle shifts into park and applies the emergency brake automatically. Additionally, the vehicles sometimes cannot be restarted, and drivers have reported seeing a malfunction warning light with a battery fault symbol on the dashboard. Many of these incidents are associated with a low voltage condition in the vehicle’s electrical system.

What is the eTorque System? –

The eTorque system in these vehicles is a mild hybrid system designed to improve fuel efficiency and performance. It replaces the traditional alternator with a 48-volt battery-powered belt drive and a motor generator. This system captures energy from the vehicle’s braking process and stores it in a battery pack. The stored energy is then used to power various electrical components and provide extra torque to the engine during gear changes.

Previous Recall and Current Investigation –

In April 2023, Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) issued recall 23V-265 for certain 2021 Ram 1500 models with the 5.7-liter HEMI eTorque engine. The recall was due to a software defect in the powertrain control module, which could cause an incorrect fuel mixture and result in engine stalls.

In February 2024, the ODI shared the new complaints about the 2022 models with FCA. After reviewing these complaints, FCA suggested that the stalls were not due to the previously identified fuel mixture issue but might be related to an electrical problem causing the engine to shut down.

Next Steps –

The NHTSA has opened a Preliminary Evaluation to understand the scope, frequency, root causes, and consequences of these engine stalls. The investigation’s scope may be expanded to include more vehicles depending on the findings.

Vehicle owners experiencing these issues are encouraged to report them to the NHTSA. The ODI reports and more information can be found on the NHTSA’s official website, NHTSA.gov.