Fiat Chrysler Issue Recall After Trucks Unexpectedly Disengage from Park

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 4, 2018

A mechanical issue discovered in numerous Ram pickup trucks has resulted in a massive recall from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Almost two million cars are affected in the recall which concerns the shifting mechanism within the popular line of trucks. Specifically, a statement from the Fiat Chrysler Automobile company indicated that it is possible for the truck to shift itself out of park, resulting in the vehicle becoming dangerously mobile when least expected.

At the time of the recall, which happened near the end of last December, it was believed that seven people had been injured as a result of the malfunction. A further number of incidents that did not result in injuries were also reported, however the statement from the company did not indicate the number of total instances where the issue was believed to have played a part.

The problem with the Ram’s shifting occurs primarily when the car is operating in areas with higher temperatures. While the truck normally features a safety mechanism that ensures that that it cannot be placed into drive unless the brake is depressed, in certain circumstances the car can be slipped into gear without the operator touching the shifter. According to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the car does not need to be on and the key does not need to be in the ignition for the car to disengage from park.

As of this writing, the recall affects all Rams that were produced from 2009 until 2017. The year that a specific truck was made can be ascertained by locating the VIN number and entering it into the company’s database or by taking their truck to a nearby Fiat Chrysler dealership and service center.

Only cars with shifters that are located along the shaft of the steering wheel are affected by the recall, meaning that all trucks with shifters located on the floor or shifters that are in the style of a rotary dial are not currently believed to be at risk.

This is the second major recall in less than a year from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, with the first coming last May after it was discovered that 1.3 million trucks were suffering from a problem with the internal software. It was reported that at least one death and two other injuries occurred as result of this software malfunction.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.