Jeep Shifter Defect Claims First Life

• FCA’s (Fiat Chrysler America) recall blames drivers: “The cause of unintended vehicle movement in the subject vehicles is the driver’s decision to exit the vehicle with the engine running and without confirming that the vehicle is in PARK and choosing not to set the parking brake as directed in documentation provided with the vehicle.” What FCA doesn’t acknowledge is their design defect that changes the way a traditional shift lever works and provides inadequate feedback to drivers. This type of human factors defect is an increasing problem with today’s cars – engineers are not considering how the systems are actually working in the hands of drivers and how the systems need to be designed to ensure accurate operation.

• The details of the Yelchin incident are not yet fully known; however, a review of the reported complaints appears to indicate that there is more than one issue causing Chrysler, Dodge and Jeeps to rollaway. In addition to the poorly designed shifter and inadequate feedback to the driver, some incidents appear to have an electronic or potential mechanical cause, which are not addressed in FCA’s recall. Some drivers claimed that the shifter indicated that the vehicle was in PARK when the rollaway occurred.

As of April 12, 2016, FCA US had identified approximately 700 field reports potentially related to this issue, including 212 crashes, 308 claims of property damage and 41 injuries. Yelchin’s tragic death has put the spotlight on FCA’s shifter defect. Hopefully it will also lead to a more complete understanding of the issue and an examination of the multitude of complex problems that come with changing vehicle interfaces and adding complex electronics. The Safety Record wrote about this problem in February – Chrysler’s Shifty Shifter and the Wacky World of Defects – it’s a good overview of this defect and the investigation.