RAM 1500 AND JEEP WAGONEER 5.7L ETORQUE VEHICLES ARE STALLING
A 2022 Ram 1500 and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer 5.7L Hemi eTorque NTHSA investigation will attempt to ascertain the cause of power loss and stalling in these vehicles.
2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Ram 1500 models come with 5.7-liter mild hybrid Hemi eTorque engines.
Eighty complaints concerning the cars stopping and losing power while driving have been reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The energy captured by the braking system is transformed into electricity for the battery pack by the Fiat Chrysler eTorque mild hybrid system. This provides electricity to numerous electrical parts.
According to the NHTSA, an eTorque engine swaps out the alternator for a belt drive that runs on 48 volts from batteries and a motor generator. When shifting gears, the crankshaft receives more torque from the motor generator.
The motor generator also uses the 48-volt battery pack to increase torque.
Many of the Jeep and Ram complaints say the engines died while driving at slow speeds, then shifted into PARK and engaged the parking brakes.
Owners complain about illuminated warning lights and battery fault symbols on the dashboards. And some Jeep and Ram owners allege there are low voltage problems and they can't restart the vehicles.
This is all the more interesting because there was an April of 2023 recall for over 134,000 2021 Ram 1500 trucks with the 5.7L eTorque engine due to stalling. RAM blamed it on a defect in the PCM software (a defect nonetheless).
Here is the official writeup and opening report from NHTSA:
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
NHTSA Action Number: PE24018
Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Opened From: July 19, 2024–Present
Summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 80 consumer complaints alleging an engine stall and loss of motive power on model year (MY) 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUV vehicles. The particular engines in the subject vehicles are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque system. The eTorque system is a mild hybrid system that lets the vehicle partially power itself. It accomplishes this by converting the captured energy from the braking system into electricity for the battery pack, which is then used to power a variety of electrical components. ETorque engines replace the alternator with a 48-volt battery-powered belt drive and a motor generator. The motor generator provides extra torque to the crankshaft during gear changes. Simultaneously, the motor generator uses the 48-volt battery pack to increase torque.
Many of the complaints state that the vehicle's engine would shut off, often while travelling at slow speed, the vehicle would shift into park and apply the emergency brake. The vehicles were sometimes able to be restarted. In addition, complaints state that the malfunction warning light with the battery fault symbol appeared on the dash. Many complaints state that a low voltage condition fault is present, sometimes not being able to restart the vehicle.
On April 13, 2023, FCA announced recall 23V-265 describing a defect in certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 5.7L eTorque engines. The recall described a defect in the powertrain control module software can cause an incorrect fuel mixture condition in the engine, and result in an engine stall.
In February of 2024, ODI provided the complaints on the 2022 Ram 1500 and Wagoneer vehicles to FCA. After reviewing the complaints, FCA stated that “the loss of motive power was likely not caused by an over rich fuel condition (as outlined in recall 23V-265), but rather some other cause (e.g., an electrical concern that causes the engine to shut down).”
A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, root cause(s) and consequences of these loss/stall of motive power incidents. Additionally, ODI may expand the scope of the subject population during the investigation, if needed. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.