FCA Recalls 1.1 Million Vehicles for Rollaway Problem

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is recalling 1.13 million vehicles worldwide to modify electronic shifters that could leave the car in gear when parked.

The callback covers 811,600 of the company’s 2014-2015 model Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and 2012-2014 model Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans in the U.S. An additional 68,900 vehicles are in Canada and Mexico. FCA says another 248,700 affected models are outside North America.

All affected vehicles are equipped with so-called e-shifters, a system used in many European luxury sport sedans. They replace the usual “PRNDL” stick shift with a spring-loaded lever that is briefly pushed forward to upshift a gear and back to downshift. The gearshift lever springs back to a central position after each gear change.

In February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that such systems are "not intuitive" and provide no visual clue about whether a parked vehicle’s transmission is in gear or locked in “Park.”

The recalled vehicles already use chimes and alert messages to warn the driver if the vehicle’s engine is running and is still in gear when the driver’s door is opened. FCA says it will modify the shift controller to automatically prevent a vehicle from moving under those circumstances.