Fiat Chrysler Recalls 1.1 Million Cars for Transmission Problems

2016 is promising to continue the trends of intense automotive regulation and massive recalls. On April 22, 2016, Fiat Chrysler announced a recall of over 1.1 million vehicles. The transmission problems have been tied to 24 injuries already, and more could be on the way.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been cracking down on automotive defects over the last few years. In 2014, it pressured GM into recalling over 60 million vehicles after ignition problems were tied to 124 deaths.

Now, it's Fiat Chrysler's turn to face the regulators. A NHTSA investigation found that 41 people had been hurt because of faulty gear shifters. These electronically controlled shift levers are difficult to operate and do not change position after the vehicle is placed in park. Instead, lights indicate which gear the car is in.

Because of this, drivers were inadvertently leaving their vehicles without putting the transmission in “park.” There have been over 300 cases of cars rolling away after an improper gear shift. Over 100 resulted in accidents. Regulators say this is due to the transmission shifter's design:

“The shifter is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the potential for unintended gear selection,” regulators said.

So on Friday, April 22, 2016, Fiat Chrysler announced it would recall 811,568 vehicles in the U.S. and another 300,000 vehicles in international markets, including Canada and Mexico. The vehicles affected include:

• 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee;
• 2012-2014 Dodge Charger; and
• 2012-2014 Chrysler 300 Sedans.

Fiat Chrysler plans to enhance the warning systems and modify the transmission systems on the recalled vehicles. These changes will reflect updates made in newer versions of the vehicles. In a statement, the company said:

“Unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles.” 

Improper shifting and parking mechanisms can cause serious injury, and even death to drivers, passengers, and nearby pedestrians. If a car is left in gear while unattended, an accidental bump could become a recipe for disaster. Because of the nature of the defect, Chrysler drivers are also at risk of damaging nearby vehicles as well as their own.

Chrysler owners are urged to take the recall seriously. Don't wait for a faulty transmission to wreck your day. If you or someone you love drives one of the affected vehicles, make sure to contact your local Fiat Chrysler dealer and schedule a repair.

Dani K. Liblang is an auto accident attorney at The Liblang Law Firm, PC, in Birmingham, Michigan. When a defect causes an injury, she represents auto owners against the manufacturers who produce lemon vehicles. If you or someone you know has been injured because of a car defect, contact The Liblang Law Firm, PC, today for a free consultation.