Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated an investigation targeting approximately one million Ram pickup trucks and Dodge Durango models.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the manufacturer of the vehicles, has stated that it is working with the investigators to determine if there is an issue with the 2013-2016 Ram 1500 pickups or the 2014-2016 Dodge Durango SUVs. According to the NHTSA, the investigation was started because of 25 crash reports that were caused by rollaway incidents.
Nine people were injured in those accidents, but no fatalities have been registered. Owners of the potentially affected models are asked to make sure they have set the parking brake before exiting their vehicles. Unlike the investigation that was started earlier this year on similar problems for FCA vehicles, the models that are the subject of the inquiry have an electronic rotary control for gear selections, Automotive News reports.
The said gear selector is different from the unit that was regarded as the cause of Anton Yelchin’s fatal accident. In the case of that situation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has commenced a recall that targets 1.1 million cars and SUVs that had a “monostable” gear selector, which was confusing to use because it returned to the same position after a gear was chosen.
Both cases involve a problem with UX design, which cannot be overcome with the mandatory setting of the parking brake to active, because the latter might be required to be left free in many day-to-day situations. Regardless of the cause of these incidents, which may be related to the way those people used their cars, FCA might have another recall on its hands once this investigation is completed.
With its second investigation regarding an electronically-controlled gear selector mechanism, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles should consider a new design for its future models. The said design must be easy to understand for all drivers, without hindering technological progress. Somehow, other automakers that have employed similar systems have not encountered similar problems.
Nine people were injured in those accidents, but no fatalities have been registered. Owners of the potentially affected models are asked to make sure they have set the parking brake before exiting their vehicles. Unlike the investigation that was started earlier this year on similar problems for FCA vehicles, the models that are the subject of the inquiry have an electronic rotary control for gear selections, Automotive News reports.
The said gear selector is different from the unit that was regarded as the cause of Anton Yelchin’s fatal accident. In the case of that situation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has commenced a recall that targets 1.1 million cars and SUVs that had a “monostable” gear selector, which was confusing to use because it returned to the same position after a gear was chosen.
Both cases involve a problem with UX design, which cannot be overcome with the mandatory setting of the parking brake to active, because the latter might be required to be left free in many day-to-day situations. Regardless of the cause of these incidents, which may be related to the way those people used their cars, FCA might have another recall on its hands once this investigation is completed.
With its second investigation regarding an electronically-controlled gear selector mechanism, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles should consider a new design for its future models. The said design must be easy to understand for all drivers, without hindering technological progress. Somehow, other automakers that have employed similar systems have not encountered similar problems.
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