Stellantis is one of the world’s largest automakers, with manufacturers like Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge all part of its portfolio. But the company has had a mixed reputation for quality in recent years. In last year’s J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, Chrysler and Ram ranked well below average, while Dodge and Jeep were above average.
To address this inconsistency, Stellantis is enhancing its focus on vehicle quality and has hired over 2,000 engineers to support this. It’s part of a “deep reset” inside Stellantis as it launches a series of new models.
A “Global Offensive” To Improve Quality
Stellantis
According to dealers, cost cuts made by previous leadership have resulted in some of the quality mishaps experienced by Stellantis in recent months and years. This includes the Charger Daytona, which was riddled with software issues when it first arrived. But current CEO Antonio Filosa has put the company on a “global offensive” to enhance quality.
“We are resetting execution and improving quality management processes to address previous operational issues triggered by past decisions,” said Filosa in a February earnings call, according to Automotive News. A key player in making this happen is Chief Quality Officer Sebastien Jacquet, who is part of the brand’s strategic leadership team.
Stellantis
In the aforementioned J.D. Power study, which tracks problems experienced with new cars over the first three months of ownership, Dodge ranked highest for all Stellantis brands, placing seventh with 180 problems per 100 vehicles. Jeep was 11th, but Chrysler was only 23rd and Ram was 25th. Ram’s 218 problems per 100 vehicles contrast sharply with top-ranked Lexus, which had just 166 problems.
Some blame the Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S’s troublesome launches on cost cutting under the tenure of Carlos Tavares, Stellantis’ previous CEO. That’s according to Sean Hogan, chairman of the Stellantis National Dealer Council.
“Antonio knew he needed to staff engineers, and he spent the money and he hired them in order to fix quality,” said Hogan. “When you make those cuts that Tavares did, and you still want the same quality, it’s just not going to happen.”
Related: Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S EVs Recalled for Rollaway Risk
New Platforms, New Problems
Stellantis
Part of Stellantis’ challenge has been launching vehicles on all-new, unproven platforms with advanced technologies. Models like the Charger Daytona and Wagoneer S have already been recalled, while Consumer Reports accused the Jeep of feeling unfinished.
“When you launch new vehicles, when you redesign vehicles, when you add new technologies, this is the time that you have the most problems,” said Jake Fisher, the director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center. “You look at the automakers that are very reliable, they’re the ones that are very stable. They have carryover platforms, they carry over powertrains.”
Fisher specifically pointed to Subaru and Toyota, brands that often carry over many components from older models to new ones. The new RAV4, for example, uses the same TNGA platform as the old one. He said he’s interested to see if the return of the trusted Hemi V8 to the Ram 1500 and Stellantis’ scrapping of several plug-in hybrids improves the company’s overall reliability record.
What It Means
After posting a $26.3-billion annual loss for 2025, partly due to overestimating the demand for electrified models, Stellantis can’t afford another major setback. Prioritizing quality control is important to retain brand loyalty. This is particularly key for Jeep and Ram in the U.S., as the two brands combined for over a million vehicle sales in 2025.
By being transparent about its quality challenges and plans to address it, Stellantis is taking a page out of Ford’s book. The Blue Oval has struggled with a high number of recalls for years, but has introduced its own internal strategy to address this.
Even the largest auto brands risk losing customers if reliability slips. For Stellantis, addressing quality urgently is as important as new model launches.
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