NTSB probe into Jeep engine fire reports could affect 781,000 vehicles

Stellantis NV said it was cooperating with U.S. authorities investigating reports of Jeep engines catching fire, in a potential setback for the company as it tries to reverse a decline in market share in North America.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating whether Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators built between 2021 and 2023 may be prone to engine fires, according to a document Monday on the regulator’s website. An estimated 781,459 vehicles could be affected.

Related: Stellantis recalls 1.46 million vehicles worldwide

“Most reports describe a fire that occurred while the vehicle’s ignition was in an ‘off’ state, with a suspected origin in the front passenger side of the engine compartment,” NHTSA said.

The carmaker is grappling with high inventory levels, quality issues and declining market shares in the US, the group’s biggest single profit earner, amid a series of executive departures. It is also facing recalls in Europe due to problems with Takata airbags. Falling US sales contributed to a decline in group profit in the first half of the year.

Related: US agency reports 28th Takata airbag inflator death since 2009

The probe comes on top of news over the weekend that the company recalled about 1.46 million Ram trucks, mostly in North America, because of a software problem that could disable their electronic stability control systems.

Earlier this year, NHTSA opened another probe looking into complaints that some 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and Jeep Wagoneer SUVs were losing power, causing the engines to stall while traveling at low speeds.

Stellantis shares were little changed as of 16:57 in Milan. The stock is down about a third this year.

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