Parents of “Star Trek” Actor Sue FCA for His Rollaway Death

The parents of 27-year-old actor “Star Trek” actor Anton Yelchin have sued Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV for negligence and product liability surrounding his death in mid-June.

Yelchin was killed when his Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV rolled down a driveway and pinned him against a brick pillar and security gate. FCA had agreed two months earlier to recall the vehicle and 1.1 million others because their unusual gearshift system can cause operators to believe their vehicle is in Park when it’s actually still in gear.

The "e-shift" system has generated 686 complaints and been linked to 266 crashes and 68 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. FCA began distributing a software update to dealers four days after Yelchin’s death.

Conventional shifters move from one position to another when gears are chosen. FCA’s system springs back to the same neutral position after each selection. The operator must look at a display to determine which gear has been selected.

A separate lawsuit filed in California a week after Yelchin’s death seeks class-action status on behalf of owners of the affected vehicles. The complaint demands restitution and a court order requiring FCA to tell owners not to drive their vehicles until repairs are made.