U.S. Escalates Rollaway Probe of 856,300 FCA Vehicles

U.S. safety officials have stepped up their investigation of a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV electronic gearshift system linked to 117 crashes and 28 injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded a preliminary probe launched in August to an engineering analysis—a move that often leads to a recall. FCA says it is cooperating fully with the agency.

The investigation focuses on the “Monostable” or E-shift electronic system used in 856,300 of the carmaker’s 2014-2015 model Grand Cherokee SUVs and V-6-powered 2012-2013 model Chrysler 300 and Dodger Charger sedans.

The ZF-supplied shifter system uses a display to indicate the gear selected. But its lever springs back to a “home” position after a gear shift rather than mechanically moving from one detent to another as conventional shifters do.

NHTSA says the resulting operation “is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback,” leaving drivers unclear about whether they have shifted into Park.

The system has an interlock that prevents drivers from turning off the engine unless the transmission is in Park. But NHTSA says it provides no feedback when the operator attempts to park the vehicle and intentionally leaves the engine running, thus increasing the risk of a rollaway.