Some Jeep, Ram vehicles under investigation by feds after safety complaints

How car recalls get reported

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially start car recalls after receiving complaints from consumers.

DETROIT - Some Ram pickup trucks and Jeep Wagoneer SUVs are under investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators after receiving complaints that they can lose power, shift into park and apply the emergency brake.

The investigation was announced on Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It covers about 150,000 vehicles made by Stellantis from the 2022 model year.

FILE - The steering wheel of a 2022 RAM 1500 Limited Crew Cab 4x4 pickup truck during the Washington Auto Show in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 2022. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

All have the company's 5.7-liter Hemi e-Torque mild hybrid system which can let the vehicle power itself.

Here’s what to know:

Reports of abrupt engine stalling in some Jeep, Ram vehicles

The NHTSA said the system converts captured energy from braking to power some electrical components of the impacted vehicles.

The system has a 48-volt battery pack and a motor generator that sends power to the crankshaft during gear changes.

But the agency said it has 80 complaints from owners that the engines can shut down, often at low speeds. Sometimes they can't be restarted.

The NHTSA said investigators will look into the affected models, how often the problem has happened, and the cause of the engine stalling. NHTSA could seek a recall.

Meanwhile, Stellantis said it's cooperating with the investigation and that any owners who see symptoms in their vehicles should contact their dealership.

The NHTSA said that the company recalled about 131,000 Ram pickups and Wagoneers with the same system last April.

The vehicles lost power because the air-gasoline mixture had too much fuel. But Stellantis told investigators that the most recent complaints about engine stalling likely were caused by an electrical problem.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.