Is Stellantis Quietly Cutting Options On Certain Vehicles?

We Keep Finding Vehicles That Keep Getting Options Cut...

Robert S. Miller May 11, 2024

What Gives? Missing Features On Vehicles.

In today’s automotive industry, consumers expect innovation and value for their hard-earned dollars. However, Stellantis has left many scratching their heads and feeling shortchanged. Despite recording profits in the past two years, Stellantis has been cutting features from several of its vehicles while still commanding premium prices.

Take, for instance, the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup. While boasting LED headlamps across the board, Stellantis raised eyebrows by outfitting the Tradesman, Big Horn (Lone Star), Laramie, and Rebel models with halogen bulb taillights. Even the new Rebel, commanding a hefty starting price of $64,490, didn’t escape the cost-cutting measures, leaving consumers wondering why premium pricing doesn’t equate to premium features. Both the Laramie and Rebel models featured standard LED taillights last year.

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This isn’t the first time Stellantis has opted for cheaper alternatives. In April 2022, Ram quietly replaced LED headlamps with halogen units in its Laramie lineup, offering customers a meager $495 credit as compensation. Such moves have left buyers feeling shortchanged and questioning the value proposition.

The issue extends beyond Ram trucks to other Stellantis brands. Our long-term 2023 Chrysler 300C, heralded for its luxurious features, arrived missing several promised standard equipment items. Chrysler eliminated items like one of the two trunk lights, one of the two grocery hooks, and even the rear seat armrest with a storage compartment and lighted cupholders were conspicuously absent. When pressed for answers, a Chrysler spokesperson cited supply chain restrictions.

More recently, a few of our readers pointed out to us that Dodge quietly eliminated LED fog lights from the 2024 Dodge Durango. While the high-performance SRT HELLCAT models forewent LED fog lights for enhanced cooling, most of the lineup traditionally offered fog lights as standard. The controversial decision to eliminate the fog light option across the entire lineup left us bewildered.

We reached out to Dodge for an official answer; however, as of the writing of this article, we haven’t received an official response.

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As car prices continue to soar, consumers demand transparency and value from automakers. Stellantis’ decision to cut standard features while maintaining premium pricing sends the wrong message to consumers and threatens to tarnish its reputation in an already competitive market. Unless Stellantis addresses these concerns and prioritizes customer satisfaction, it risks losing ground to competitors who prioritize delivering on their promises.

What are your opinions on these recent removals of standard features? Let us know in the comments below.

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i ipa0628 May 11, 2024 #1

Got to keep those margins up. I guess the high prices aren't enough. When vehicles start piling up on the lots because of the high prices and reduced equipment, maybe it will sink in. Soon it will be like Ram across the entire lineup, 10 to 15% off sticker. Then where are the margins. Guess they will have to charge more for paint.
Other brands offer LED's etc on lower priced vehicles, while Stellantis cuts content. Pathetic..

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s scatpack_69 May 12, 2024 #2

We are close to a reckoning. The insane prices….its not going to last. Can’t. I hope.

When things sit and don’t sell, they will have to lower prices. I can think of all sorts of things that have doubled or nearly, or skyrocketed, from tools to vehicles, and it’s not a path to success. We just aren’t buying.

Those that can will continue to buy the top-tier things like Longhorn and Limited trims trucks, but we don’t have an option for a budget friendly base or mid trim.

This is exactly what forced their hands on Tradesman, people wanted a budget truck but with some content. Hello 8.4 and 12.1 on Tradesman

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c cgseller May 13, 2024 #3

Automotive parts appear to be skyrocketing in price, even taking into account the higher inflation rates of the past few years. The evidnece of I have of this is due to a recent body work quotes for parts that have simple parts being several hundred or thousands of dollars. Headlights, mounting brackets, and simple parts costing $300? Hoods approaching $1000.

I don't know where the cost is coming from, the OEM, the supplier, the shareholders, red-tape, or maybe profits?

It appears to be a race to price out of reach. The industry is ripe for foreign low cost vehicles to take north american consumers by storm; we may see consumers pressure political figures to allow such imports and remove tariffs against the will of the shrinking automotive workforce and families.... :(

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Luiggi1 May 13, 2024 #4

Actually disappointing. My 2023 Durango SRT (premium) came with no (compact/temporary) spare tire, while up to 2021 all Durangos did. Huge nightmare, because I wrongly assumed at first that it was the same spare used for the rest of Durango line, but given the larger calipers, it isn't. The OEM rim option (probably the only one that fits) can cost 1000-1500USD, plus around 400USD for the tire, 500USD for fire barrier and mechanism wich carries the tire, etc. Also, a small plastic mat covering the small covered area, next to the jack (as well as the jack itself) was missing. Finally, the spare tire absence creates a drum like sound effect on the interior in combination with exhaust pipes. Nobody warns you anyhow when buying. Imagine the number of non-visible things vehicles that can be missing. Unfare business practice... and later they may regret mistreating customers, when some other (foreign?) auto maker puts Stellantis in financial trouble. The eternal cycle of many brands in which they only treat customers well for a short period after recovering from some crisis. Petty.