1.1 million Fiat Chrysler cars to be recalled over ‘confusing’ gearshift

Fiat Chrysler said Friday it was recalling more than 1.1 million cars and midsize SUVs worldwide, because their gear shifters “might confuse drivers” and allow them to exit their vehicles without placing them in “park” position.

The automaker explained the move is being made to reduce the effect of potential driver error by enhancing warnings and transmission shift strategy.

The automaker noted that it already has begun equipping Charger and 300 sedans with a new shift-lever design as of the 2015 model year, while the Grand Cherokee’s shift lever was updated for 2016. While there are no reported deaths as a result of this problem, FCA is aware of 41 separate injuries potentially caused by the issue.

The Problem: Gear selection is conveyed to the driver by multiple sets of indicator lights, but not gear-selector position, “and unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles”, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said in a statement. Many are presumed to have occurred when the driver exited the vehicle when it was not in ‘Park’.

FCA said its dealers will install an additional warning system to alert drivers when the auto is not in park and a new part to prevent the vehicle from moving even if the driver fails to select “park”. Fiat Chrysler will notify owners of vehicles involved in the recall and will do the repairs at no cost to owners.

More than 850,000 vehicles in North America are affected, along with just over 250,000 elsewhere.

The automaker says it will add additional warning signals an undetermined mechanical fix to help ensure the vehicles are in park. “In the interim, FCA US urges customers to follow the instructions in their owners’ manuals”, the company said.