UPDATE: FCA Recalls Cars, SUVs That Could Suddenly Shift to Neutral

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is recalling 412,900 vehicles in the U.S. with transmissions that could shift into neutral unexpectedly.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG, which supplies the transmissions, says the same problem affects gearboxes it has sold to other carmakers. Additional recalls appear likely.

FCA’s callback involves 2014-2015 model Jeep Cherokee and Renegade SUVs, Chrysler 200 small sedans and Ram ProMaster commercial vans. All are equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions.

The problem is caused by poorly assembled transmission wiring harness terminals, not the gearbox itself. A bad connection can cause the vehicle’s diagnostic system to sense a problem and shift the transmission into neutral to prevent damage. FCA says restarting the engine often clears the fault code and enables the transmission to function properly, at least temporarily.

Rather than replace the defective wiring, FCA plans to have its dealers update software used by the transmission control module. The update will eliminate the shift-to-neutral response and replace it with a “limp home” mode, which illuminates a malfunction lamp and shifts the transmission into a single fixed gear.

ZF says a similar fix should eliminate the problem in affected transmissions it supplied to other carmakers.