DETROIT — U.S. auto security regulators won’t search a recall after a seven-year investigation into complaints alleging that Dodge and Ram autos can roll away after being shifted into park.
The issue was much like one which was blamed within the loss of life of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin, though the corporate was within the means of recalling his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee to deal with the difficulty.
The investigation, opened in December of 2016, lined nearly 1.3 million Ram 1500 pickup vehicles from the 2013 to 2017 mannequin years, in addition to Dodge Durango SUVs from 2014 by way of 2017.
At problem have been digital dial-like rotary gear selector knobs that have been new on the time and completely different from earlier mechanical shifters that used a lever to pick gears. The knobs are turned to the left or proper and have detents that click on into gear.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration says in paperwork posted on its web site Monday that it and Stellantis, previously Fiat Chrysler, had obtained almost 1,500 complaints that the autos would roll after drivers put them in park.
However the company mentioned it didn’t discover proof {that a} design or manufacturing defect precipitated the rollaway incidents. Plus, Fiat Chrysler did a “customer satisfaction campaign” to replace software program so the autos robotically shift into park if the motive force’s door is opened.
The company mentioned it monitored autos that bought the replace and located that the service marketing campaign was “effective in reducing the frequency of vehicle rollaway incidents in the subject vehicles.”
Investigators additionally analyzed stories that the autos rolled away even after the software program replace, however didn’t discover an “actionable defect” that precipitated the issues. The company additionally mentioned that after the service marketing campaign, buyer complaints considerably decreased.
“Given the absence of an identified safety defect based on available information and FCA’s customer satisfaction campaign which addresses the failure mode, further action is not warranted at this time,” the company wrote.
In an announcement, Stellantis mentioned it agrees with NHTSA’s findings and is “pleased that our update appears to have resonated with customers.”
Yelchin, 27, recognized for taking part in Chekov within the Star Trek movie sequence, died in June 2016 after his Jeep pinned him towards a mailbox pillar and safety fence at his house in Los Angeles.
His Grand Cherokee SUV was amongst a gaggle of autos recalled due to complaints from drivers who had bother telling in the event that they put the console-mounted shift levers in park after stopping. Many reported that the autos rolled off after the motive force exited.
The Grand Cherokee shift levers like Yelchin’s needed to be pushed ahead or backward to vary gears, complicated many drivers. Within the recall, Fiat Chrysler modified the software program so the autos robotically shift into park if the motive force’s door is opened.