Stellantis Is Hiring 2,000 New Engineers As Quality Concerns Finally Reach The Top

Will this signal an improvement in the Stellantis brands? We can only hope.

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/03/stellantis-quality-reset-engineers/

 

[David Tree]

I don't know anything that isn't already common knowledge at this point. The motors themselves seem to be fine (so far), the transmission is a known good design that's very robust, and the electrical system is a **** show at launch but the software has been patched a few times. However, are the issues with the physical harnesses persisting? I don't know. My buddy works for Ford now so my last "inside source" isn't available any longer.

Last i heard is that the cheap plastic thermostat has not been replaced and the SST can overheat causing shut-down and damage.

That, along with the other issues prevents me from trading in my 2022
I am impressed with the SST and hoping they continue to fix/upgrade as i wait for 2027

 

[PolarisCobra]

I have seen zero posts here about a RAM with a Hurricane engine that had a thermostat problem. I believe that was solved when they were still putting the Hurricane only in the Jeeps. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Almost all of the problems with the newer trucks have to do with the new electronics platform, not with the engine. It seems to me we should expect similar issues with new rucks with the HEMI, since they will have the same electronics platform.

A defective battery won't start a HEMI any better than it will start a Hurricane.

FWIW - My 2025 Big Horn with the SST SO has been trouble free from 14000 miles. A few warnings popped up on the digital display, the backup camera showed a blue screen twice, but a software update at the dealer fixed all of that.

I know not everyone has had a great experience, but they are not all junk either.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Almost all of the problems with the newer trucks have to do with the new electronics platform, not with the engine. It seems to me we should expect similar issues with new rucks with the HEMI, since they will have the same electronics platform.

This is correct. The motor isn't the issue, the transition from Power Net to Atlantis and the physical wiring are the problems for the vast majority of trucks that were down for the newest trucks. Note etorque failures are an extra concern with the Hemi, not so much because of frequency but because of the delay in replacement parts availability.

 

[yogibear18]

Start with getting rid of useless assembly line workers that don’t take pride in what they build

 

[Docwagon1776]

Start with getting rid of useless assembly line workers that don’t take pride in what they build

How many of the common failures in vehicles, not just Stellantis but all makers, are from assembly issues?

How many are from engineering/programming issues, cost cutting resulting in subpar components, and QC issues from outsourced parts from non-US sources?

How brainwashed against the blue collar worker do you need to be to believe the massive decline in vehicle reliability is the assembly line worker's fault?

 

[khocke]

For every new engineer, they need to get rid of two bean counters.

 

[Hagar1]

When I worked for the USG in comms ages ago, there was one engineer on site that was always fiddling with things. We had some equipment problems one day and he wandered by and started throwing out random ideas about possible solutions, to the point it was getting on my nerves. I finally just picked up a hammer and said let me take a look at it and see what I can do. He immediately walked off, I put the hammer down and then me and another guy fixed the problem. Didn't see him the rest of the day, which made me happy.

I went to visit the accountant at a dealership where I worked. He had been playing around with our pay cheques and I was not happy. As I was talking with him, I kept smacking my ballpeen hammer into the palm of my hand. He got all nervous, promised to pay closer attention and then quit a few weeks later. Turns out, I had a way with words.

 

[HEMIMANN]

How did I miss this delightful thread?

What do you wanna bet most all the new 'engineers' are just a bunch of coder bro's?

 

[David Tree]

Did my first drive from NJ to Pulaski NY for Trout fishing.

RESULTS:
Almost DOUBLE the fuel mileage versus my 2018 Tundra = AWESOME

 

[Hagar1]

How did I miss this delightful thread?

What do you wanna bet most all the new 'engineers' are just a bunch of coder bro's?

I know one of them and quite frankly, I wouldn't cross the street to ____ on him if he was on fire!

 

[Gemeni06]

I think we all know what they say about engineers

Scientists and engineers seek simple solutions to complex problems. Lawyers and politicians seek complex solutions to simple problems.

 

[Gemeni06]

How many of the common failures in vehicles, not just Stellantis but all makers, are from assembly issues?

How many are from engineering/programming issues, cost cutting resulting in subpar components, and QC issues from outsourced parts from non-US sources?

How brainwashed against the blue collar worker do you need to be to believe the massive decline in vehicle reliability is the assembly line worker's fault?

Totally agree with what you're saying here. Assembly mistakes made by blue collar workers are at the bottom of the list. If Quality Control Engineering is doing it's job assembly line mistakes will be caught and corrected before product goes out the door. And assembly line mistakes may not even be the fault of the workers. They may have been given inadequate assembly instructions.

 

[Gemeni06]

For every new engineer, they need to get rid of two bean counters.

Won't work. The company will go bankrupt.

 

[Sherman Bird]

It can't hurt. Engineers can scream and yell all day long about problems and propose all kinds of solutions. But in the end, it is profits that rule, and cutting corners is the quickest way.

With the problems I had in taking delivery of my Ram, someone had to have taken notice.

My New Purchase Story

After plenty of research, it was a new Ram 1500 with the V6. This would be my first new (or old) vehicle in 17 years. WhooooHooo. Here is my new Ram 1500 nightmare story. Sept 30 2025 I test drove the very basic Ram 1500. I wanted a good price and a solid truck. The Tradesman with the V6...

www.ramforum.com

I remember working for one of Houston, Texas' premier Pontiac/GMC dealers in 1999.
One hot, sunny afternoon, there were 4 men in golf shirts with clipboards mulling around the back parking lot looking into, specifically, GMC trucks and SUV's. My pristine 1990 GMC Suburban SE happened to be parked on the lot, and they were especially enthralled with how well preserved it was.

After I determined who they were, They asked my permission, once I told them that it was mine, to open the doors and really assess interior wear and tear. I said yes, and asked a lot of questions.

They paid special attention to the padded dash, the piping on the driver's Captain chair upholstery as well as the cloth's wear-out on the edges where friction was highest (edges that got rubbed when entering and exiting the vehicle.

These guys were engineers flown down here by the Mothership, and were more than happy to explain to me the things I queried them about. They claimed that their mission was to gather lots of data, and report back to their mommas and pappas.

Apparently, the many of thousands of complaints were being addressed, but, as the years wore on, I really didn't see much improvement in interior quality/longevity. I just wonder how much of their content of their reports was gauged against the almighty dollar!

 

[jc56berg]

Stellantis is just now coming around to this idea? Quality should be at the top of the list.

 

[MrBonez]

One thing they could do is work on shedding some of the excess weight these pickups have.
That would improve things overall like MPG - Less weight, less fuel used to drive it and it would perform better too (Looking at the Rumble Bees here) since that's a power to weight ratio issue.

I've noted compared to older full sized pickups these things are just heavy, no doubt about it.

 

[Docwagon1776]

One thing they could do is work on shedding some of the excess weight these pickups have.
That would improve things overall like MPG - Less weight, less fuel used to drive it and it would perform better too (Looking at the Rumble Bees here) since that's a power to weight ratio issue.

I've noted compared to older full sized pickups these things are just heavy, no doubt about it.

They are heavy because they are bigger, safer, and more capable. I don't know I'd call it excess or where they'd reasonably cut weight until they reduce the footprint. Nobody is going back to 15" rims, no air bags, bendy frames, etc.

Smaller footprint is really the only way to get there and keep what new car buyers want along with meeting safety regs and the like.