Government officials are looking into reports that certain Fiat Chrysler vehicles may roll-away while their transmission is in park.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced this preliminary evaluation on Dec. 16. According to the NHTSA’s announcement, the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 43 complaints about instances in which a Ram 1500 or Dodge Durango rolled away from a parked position.
The incidents allegedly happened after the driver placed the vehicle’s transmission in park and exited the vehicle. These incidents resulted in 25 crashes and a total of nine injuries. Some reports say the engine was running at the time, and others report it was shut off.
The vehicles subject to the evaluation include the Dodge Durango from model years 2014 to 2016 and Ram 1500 pickups from model years 2013 to 2016. The NHTSA estimates around one million vehicles could be affected by the alleged defect.
A spokesperson for Fiat Chrysler says the company is cooperating fully with the NHTSA’s investigation.
The transmissions in these vehicles are controlled by a rotary switch in the driver’s console, rather than by a traditional shift lever. Manufacturer Fiat Chrysler began using these rotary switches in 2013. Designers prefer rotary switches because they leave room for more features in the vehicle’s dashboard.
But critics say these switches require drivers to learn a new way of shifting that’s different from what they’ve used in older models of cars. Some of these switches allegedly return to their original position after shifting, leaving drivers without a visual or tactile indication of what gear the transmission is in.
These incidents recall a similar problem in Jeep Grand Cherokees that was blamed for the death of actor Anton Yelchin, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov in the recent reboot of Star Trek films.
Police reports say Yelchin was crushed when his Grand Cherokee rolled backwards down his steep driveway and pinned him against the driveway gate.
Yelchin’s parents are now bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler, alleging their son’s death was caused by defects in his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
At the time of Yelchin’s death, his vehicle was already subject to a recall of over one million Fiat Chrysler vehicles. Yelchin’s parents say the recall notice arrived at his address a week after he was killed.
Other vehicles subject to the same recall include Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s, according to a Fiat Chrysler class action lawsuit filed last summer. Plaintiffs there allege those vehicles’ transmission controls fail to give the driver tactile feedback that lets them know whether the transmission has fully shifted into park.
The plaintiffs also point out that these vehicles have no safety mechanism that would automatically put the vehicle in park when the driver’s door is open and there is no pressure on the brake pedal.
The Fiat Chrysler Defective Gear Shifter Class Action Lawsuit is Deryl Wall, et al. v. FCA USA LCC, Case No. 5:16-cv-01341, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Eastern Division.
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9 thoughts onDodge, Ram Vehicles Subject to NHTSA Roll-Away Investigation
I have a 2001 Dodge ram 15. Same thing happend to my truck and is still hapeining to it. It has rolled into many things in park forward and backwards. Lots of damage to my truck but thankfully no one has been hurt as yet
I have a 2013 Dodge Durango got it from stg from bellflower California dealership 5 months ago now I have to pay out of pocket because only had 30 days of warranty with the dealership tranmision issue PLEASE ADD ME
Had a 2013 dodge ram. I got out to talk to my mom had vehicle in park with my new born and my 10 year old son. Next thing I knew the truck was rolling back down here driveway and had to chase after it jumped in and had to hit the emergency break to get it to stop. Was up at dodgeland the next day complaining and was basically told any time I cut the truck off to use the e brake. Was so mad that they didn’t understand my kids were in the truck when it happened. Sold the truck a few months later after getting it fixed.
I shut off truck in park got out of my 2013 ram 1500 shut the door locked it and then watched it roll backwards about two feet luckily it didn’t run over my foot on pretty level driveway too something isn’t right with this
I own a 2016 Dodge Ram Pick up 1500 Please add me due to the vehicle rolling away several times while in park.
I have a 2013 1500 and it won’t go or stay into park sometimes. I have taken it to our local dealer and they claim it has no recall. Fortunately when it rolled, it was a very slight incline and I was able to run back, jump in and hit the brake before any damage was caused. ADD ME
My 2016 Ram 1500 has rolled in park on several occasions. Other occasions put in drive and didn’t move at all, had to fool with shifter to get into drive finally. On 9/3/2018 went out to move truck out it in drive, selector showed drive but stupid thing went into reverse. Hitting one of our other vehicles. Causing several thousand dollars in damages. Now Chrysler is jerking me around because I want to be present and videoing the inspection.
And last 2 oil changes I mentioned this issue to the dealership and was ignored .
Same thing happened to me, in my husbands 2001 dodge ram, it was in a parked position and I had it turned off with just the radio on…for my mom who was in passenger seat….I went into kinkos to make a photo copy….as I look up to the window…My truck rolled back luckily into a cement light pole…and no one was hurt…except my husbands bumper….