Chrysler News: NHTSA Investigates Dodge Durango and Ram 1500s Rolling Away

[William Maley]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles isn't out of the dog house when it comes to vehicles rolling away. A few months after issuing a recall on a number of models equipped with the stubby transmission lever for rolling away, NHTSA is investigating models equipped with the rotary knob gear selector for the same problem.

The investigation is looking at the 2013–2016 Ram 1500 and the 2014–2016 Dodge Durango which have the rotary knob selector. NHTSA has gotten 43 complaints about these models moving away. Out of the 43 complaints, 25 have resulted in crashes and another 9 resulted in injuries. NHTSA also says that 34 complaints said the vehicle was moving while in park.

FCA said it is cooperating with the investigation. In the meantime, FCA and NHTSA are urging owners to engage the parking brake

Source: NHTSA, Reuters

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[Stew]

Seriously, turn it to the left until you can't turn it anymore and ou are in park people.  I have used these in the 200 and Ram and had no issue.  It disturbs me that people can't operate an automatic shifter these days.  God forbid those people try to drive something with a manual. 

[surreal1272]

2 hours ago, Stew said:

Seriously, turn it to the left until you can't turn it anymore and ou are in park people.  I have used these in the 200 and Ram and had no issue.  It disturbs me that people can't operate an automatic shifter these days.  God forbid those people try to drive something with a manual. 

Have you actually talked to any of these owners having these problems? Seems rather presumptuous to assume their issues if you haven't. Now, if it is because of basic ignorance, then yes these people are hopeless but if you don't know for certain than that is a whole other ballgame. For the record, I think you may be right but since I haven't spoken to any of the affected drivers, I'll reserve judgement for now. 

[Stew]

14 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

Have you actually talked to any of these owners having these problems? Seems rather presumptuous to assume their issues if you haven't. Now, if it is because of basic ignorance, then yes these people are hopeless but if you don't know for certain than that is a whole other ballgame. For the record, I think you may be right but since I haven't spoken to any of the affected drivers, I'll reserve judgement for now. 

It was driver ignorance with the other recall.  These transmissions give audible warnings, the light on the shifters, and 2 or 3 warnings in the cluster if the vehicle is not in park when the door is opened.  I have used this same shifter on multiple vehicles and never had any type of issue.  More than likely they are just forgetting to put it in park when they get out and ignoring the warnings. 

[surreal1272]

18 minutes ago, Stew said:

It was driver ignorance with the other recall.  These transmissions give audible warnings, the light on the shifters, and 2 or 3 warnings in the cluster if the vehicle is not in park when the door is opened.  I have used this same shifter on multiple vehicles and never had any type of issue.  More than likely they are just forgetting to put it in park when they get out and ignoring the warnings. 

Again I understand what you're saying and I know a lot of the times, the "new tech" is just not familiar enough to some folks but it's still presumptuous to say that's what's going with the affected people now. There are these known as "defects" that could be the problem more than driver error, is what I'm saying.

[Stew]

I see it as a remote possibility at best, especially since this shifter has been around for nearly 4 years now and this is just coming up.   Remember they have to put a freaking chart in the new Lacrosse because people couldn't understand what is actually a simple shifter to use. 

Edited December 21, 2016 by Stew

[hyperv6]

Having used the shifter in the 300 my first comment is some old person in Florida is going to put one of these through a garage wall.

The shifter is a little on the sensitive side and if you are younger with good joy stick skills it is not an issue. But those who are older and like have had decades of clunky shifter detents it is a point of adaption. Some do and some don't.

Be that as it may any MFG will be faced with the problem is people can't handle it.

On the other hand they could claim they warned people if you should have one coming at you in a parking lot. It does say Dodge or Ram on the car does it not? LOL!

They really needed to add to the sensitivity of the shifter. I have not used the knob but would think the detent for part would be one even a blind man could feel. Feel in a shifter is something many have adopted too. Even in my car I never look I just count the detents.

[Stew]

2 minutes ago, hyperv6 said:

Having used the shifter in the 300 my first comment is some old person in Florida is going to put one of these through a garage wall.

The shifter is a little on the sensitive side and if you are younger with good joy stick skills it is not an issue. But those who are older and like have had decades of clunky shifter detents it is a point of adaption. Some do and some don't.

Be that as it may any MFG will be faced with the problem is people can't handle it.

On the other hand they could claim they warned people if you should have one coming at you in a parking lot. It does say Dodge or Ram on the car does it not? LOL!

They really needed to add to the sensitivity of the shifter. I have not used the knob but would think the detent for part would be one even a blind man could feel. Feel in a shifter is something many have adopted too. Even in my car I never look I just count the detents.

It actually has a really good and clear detent between gears.  I am not exactly a kid ya know haha. 

[hyperv6]

4 hours ago, Stew said:

It actually has a really good and clear detent between gears.  I am not exactly a kid ya know haha. 

I was not sure on the dial but I do know the 300 does take some adaption if you are not used to it and the old dogs don't learn new tricks well. They got a recall on it but I do not believe they have had it addressed yet. 

I am interested in what they do to change it. I assume a new less sensitive switch?

I have driven some others that were electronic but they were much less sensitive. 

The first couple times I drove it I missed the gear the first try and had to give it a second try. I was holding it too long. 

I did stress to my mother in law to make sure to pay attention to what gear she was in as details in a car are not often her first concern. Shopping yes gear no. 

Edited December 21, 2016 by hyperv6

[Stew]

14 hours ago, hyperv6 said:

I was not sure on the dial but I do know the 300 does take some adaption if you are not used to it and the old dogs don't learn new tricks well. They got a recall on it but I do not believe they have had it addressed yet. 

I am interested in what they do to change it. I assume a new less sensitive switch?

I have driven some others that were electronic but they were much less sensitive. 

The first couple times I drove it I missed the gear the first try and had to give it a second try. I was holding it too long. 

I did stress to my mother in law to make sure to pay attention to what gear she was in as details in a car are not often her first concern. Shopping yes gear no. 

The rotary is totally different than the original 8 speed shifter in the 12-15 Charger and 300s.  Where it first appeared in the Ram it is designed to be clear and easily usable with gloves.  it took me no time to adapt and the extra space in the center console was nice.  Also, try the shifter in the 15+ LX cars and 16+ Grand Cherokees.  It is sweet, easy to use and actually looks pretty damned good for a factory auto shifter.

[hyperv6]

12 minutes ago, Stew said:

The rotary is totally different than the original 8 speed shifter in the 12-15 Charger and 300s.  Where it first appeared in the Ram it is designed to be clear and easily usable with gloves.  it took me no time to adapt and the extra space in the center console was nice.  Also, try the shifter in the 15+ LX cars and 16+ Grand Cherokees.  It is sweet, easy to use and actually looks pretty damned good for a factory auto shifter.

I would assume it would be easy to do right as others have done so. But with so many things anymore you have to idiot proof things as people can today  find ways of getting hurt on a Band Aide

[Stew]

1 minute ago, hyperv6 said:

I would assume it would be easy to do right as others have done so. But with so many things anymore you have to idiot proof things as people can today  find ways of getting hurt on a Band Aide

Unfortunately this is so true.  In the last couple years there have been multiple cases here of people running through buildings (especially Subway restaurants for some reason lol) because they can't tell the difference between the gas and brake pedal and they haven't moved in 100 years haha. 

[2QuickZ's]

I had a '14 300 with the electronic shifter.  I get the complaints about that one.  You got used to the shifter but it was not as intuitive as most shifters.  You could think you were in park and actually be in neutral.  I do not get the issue with the rotary.  My 200 has a rotary and every position is clearly detented and it also has indicators telling you what position you are in.  I don't really understand how people can have issues with the rotary other than the fact it is new and different.  Maybe it is just easier to forget since there isn't a lever staring you in the face?

My questions is, don't some of the European brands (I'm looking at you Mercedes) have overly complicated shifters that are not at all intuitive?  How in the world do they get away without having these same investigations being done?  Do they do a better job with auto application of electronic parking brakes?

[hyperv6]

The problem I surmise may be the dial is different. 

People tend to use shifters without any thought but the dial at first needs more attention and is more an opperator error.

The problem is even as a operator issue the mfg pats the price. 

My puzzlement is why go to a dial and take the risk?

Mfg have gone to buttons and other forms of shifter but they always go back to stick and column.

i guess it is hard to change habits from 100 years.

The problem I surmise may be the dial is different. 

People tend to use shifters without any thought but the dial at first needs more attention and is more an opperator error.

The problem is even as a operator issue the mfg pats the price. 

My puzzlement is why go to a dial and take the risk?

Mfg have gone to buttons and other forms of shifter but they always go back to stick and column.

i guess it is hard to change habits from 100 years.

[Stew]

2 hours ago, hyperv6 said:

The problem I surmise may be the dial is different. 

People tend to use shifters without any thought but the dial at first needs more attention and is more an opperator error.

The problem is even as a operator issue the mfg pats the price. 

My puzzlement is why go to a dial and take the risk?

Mfg have gone to buttons and other forms of shifter but they always go back to stick and column.

i guess it is hard to change habits from 100 years.

The problem I surmise may be the dial is different. 

People tend to use shifters without any thought but the dial at first needs more attention and is more an opperator error.

The problem is even as a operator issue the mfg pats the price. 

My puzzlement is why go to a dial and take the risk?

Mfg have gone to buttons and other forms of shifter but they always go back to stick and column.

i guess it is hard to change habits from 100 years.

The shift is because it puts less clutter on the center console and offers more rooms.  you couldn't do such before shifters went electronic.  Jag and Ford (at least on the 17 Fusion) both the dial and Lincoln uses push buttons (at least on the MKS). 

[oldshurst442]

Its a cleaner look that is for sure. Dials that is.

Ive driven both the TLX and the new 2017 Fusion both with the dial shifters in which I own the previous models where my wife's 2013 Fusion and my 2012 TL have the regular stick.

OK...I personally prefer the clean look and the less claustrophobic reality at the center console but....when the actual shifting out of gear is concerned , I much prefer the old skool way with the stick...

To boot, if I wanted a real clean and waaaay less claustrophobic look at the middle, I much prefer to have a bench seat with an arm rest folding down and up and a column shifter. REAL old skool way!!!

 

[hyperv6]

3 hours ago, Stew said:

The shift is because it puts less clutter on the center console and offers more rooms.  you couldn't do such before shifters went electronic.  Jag and Ford (at least on the 17 Fusion) both the dial and Lincoln uses push buttons (at least on the MKS). 

 

3 hours ago, Stew said:

The shift is because it puts less clutter on the center console and offers more rooms.  you couldn't do such before shifters went electronic.  Jag and Ford (at least on the 17 Fusion) both the dial and Lincoln uses push buttons (at least on the MKS). 

 Understand this what I do not understand is it worth the risk as you too often end up with issues like this as people really don't deal with changes like this well. 

The space is not worth the issues.