Photo: Jeep
The tragic demise of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin will be investigated by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the manufacturer of the vehicle that hit him.
Yelchin died this Sunday after he was pinned against a gate post by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The cause of his death was labeled “blunt trauma asphyxia,” and investigators have yet to determine what led to his untimely passing.
The brick gate post was at a bottom of a steep incline, so the car managed to pick up some speed as it rolled down the hill.
At the moment, investigators and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles must determine if the vehicle owned by Yelchin was recalled, or was expecting a service appointment to arrange a fix.
As Automotive News notes, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a recall for vehicles fitted with a “monostable shifter,” including the 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The recall was announced in April, 2016, and affected 811,586 Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler models.
While there was nothing wrong with the shifter, its design was considered cumbersome to use. A “monostable shifter” is an electronically operated unit which ditches the classic design of a gated and intentionally tricky route for the gearshift selector of automatic transmissions.
Instead of moving a conventional lever, users of the system employed by Fiat-Chrysler models and a few German sedans would only have to move the switch forward or backward to go through the traditional gear options: Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low, Sport, et cetera.
FCA issued a voluntary recall action to install upgraded software in the vehicles, which would keep the cars stationary if the cars were in a gear other than “Park” when the driver’s side door was open. Furthermore, drivers would receive audio and visual warnings if they would attempt to stop the engine without switching to “Park.”
The problem with this system was that some users could not determine if they had selected the "Park" gear, thus increasing the risk of the vehicle rolling away.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles representatives have extended their condolences to the family and friends of the 27-year-old actor. At this point, they believe it would be premature to speculate the cause of the tragedy.
The brick gate post was at a bottom of a steep incline, so the car managed to pick up some speed as it rolled down the hill.
At the moment, investigators and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles must determine if the vehicle owned by Yelchin was recalled, or was expecting a service appointment to arrange a fix.
As Automotive News notes, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a recall for vehicles fitted with a “monostable shifter,” including the 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The recall was announced in April, 2016, and affected 811,586 Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler models.
While there was nothing wrong with the shifter, its design was considered cumbersome to use. A “monostable shifter” is an electronically operated unit which ditches the classic design of a gated and intentionally tricky route for the gearshift selector of automatic transmissions.
Instead of moving a conventional lever, users of the system employed by Fiat-Chrysler models and a few German sedans would only have to move the switch forward or backward to go through the traditional gear options: Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low, Sport, et cetera.
FCA issued a voluntary recall action to install upgraded software in the vehicles, which would keep the cars stationary if the cars were in a gear other than “Park” when the driver’s side door was open. Furthermore, drivers would receive audio and visual warnings if they would attempt to stop the engine without switching to “Park.”
The problem with this system was that some users could not determine if they had selected the "Park" gear, thus increasing the risk of the vehicle rolling away.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles representatives have extended their condolences to the family and friends of the 27-year-old actor. At this point, they believe it would be premature to speculate the cause of the tragedy.
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