The NHTSA has launched an investigation into about a million Fiat Chrysler Ram pickup trucks and SUVs prompted by complaints that vehicles have rolled away and crashed after being parked.
The investigation covers the 2013-2016 model year Ram 1500 pickup truck and 2014-2016 Dodge Durango SUV. NHTSA said it has received reports from owners of 25 crashes and nine injuries alleging vehicle roll-away.
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The vehicles are fitted with an electronically shifted transmission and electronic rotary control for driver gear selections. The reports alleged that the “unintended motion occurred after the driver moved the transmission gear selector to Park and exited the vehicle”. Nine injuries have been alleged in eight reports, 25 crashes are alleged.
Notably none of the reports indicate that the parking brake was engaged at the time of the roll-away incident, the NHTSA noted.
The issues being investigated are similar to the one cited in the summer tragedy in which Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin.
Yelchin, who played Chekov in the revamped Star Trek movie series, died in a freak accident when his recalled 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled and pinned him against a fence at his home in Los Angeles at the weekend.
