Over the past year, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has been plagued with recall after recall. From air bag problems to seat belts that won’t stay engaged, 2017 has been a recall nightmare for the automaker. Even as the year winds down, FCA is issuing a new recall, but this one may bring back old memories of a young talent lost far too soon.
Why Is Fiat Chrysler Issuing a New Recall?
In June 2016, Anton Yelchin—the actor who played Chekov in the popular Star Trek reboot—died at his Los Angeles home. He was near the gate to his driveway when the Jeep Grand Cherokee he had parked rolled into him, pinning the actor between the vehicle’s bumper and a brick pillar. His passing sent a wave of disbelief through the entertainment industry, but it caused an outcry when people found out why his vehicle rolled into him.
A defective shifter design was blamed for the accident, and only days after Yelchin’s incident, FCA recalled 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees for what was dubbed rollaway incidents. Many other FCA customers had suffered injuries, and many have joined Yelchin’s parents in filing lawsuits against FCA for their losses. Many of these cases are still pending.
On December 26th, FCA rekindled memories of the loss of Yelchin by recalling 1.8 million Dodge Rams for shifter problems that lead to rollaways. The shift interlock device can fail over long-term use, due to heating problems, which will allow the shifter to move into park without the brake pedal being engaged and/or without the key in the ignition.
There is a website where you can check to see if your truck is on the recall list, but another rollaway recall will undoubtedly shake the faith of these vehicle owners. Do you own a Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle? Do you suspect a vehicle defect is responsible for property damage, injury or the death of a loved one? Calling an attorney may be your best option.
Brought to you by the New Jersey product liability attorneys with experience handling FCA cases—Keefe Law Firm.