A U.S. automotive safety agency is investigating whether the design of several Chrysler models' electronic shift levers is too confusing for drivers, who can’t tell what gear the vehicle is in.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding its investigation to cover 856,000 vehicles with Chrysler’s popular 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, including Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger cars from model years 2012 thru 2014; and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from model years 2014 and 2015, after it received reports some owners walked away thinking their vehicle was in PARK when it was not.
The NHTSA has so far been notified of 306 incidents of Grand Cherokees rolling away after drivers thought they’d put the vehicle in PARK, resulting in some 117 alleged crashes. About 28 of those reportedly ended in injuries.
The vehicles use a ZF Group Monostable electronic gear shift assembly that "springs back into a neutral position after drivers select a gear and release the shifter," explains the Detroit News. "NHTSA’s testing found that the electronic gear shifter is 'not intuitive' and offers 'poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the potential for unintended gear selection.'"
If a driver opens the door when the vehicle is not in PARK, a chime rings and a message pops up on the dash; the vehicle will also not shut off if not in PARK. Most of the reported crashes, however, involve drivers who exited the vehicle and left it running on purpose.
