FCA Recalling 2017 Dodge Challengers Over Rollaway Problem

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky
fca recalling 2017 dodge challengers over rollaway problem

After a high-profile recall of over 1 million vehicles due to a design flaw associated with the shifter used with the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, Fiat Chrysler probably felt it was in the clear as far as rollaway risks were concerned. Unfortunately, FCA is now recalling 2017 Dodge Challengers with instrumentation that might erroneously indicate the vehicle is in park — creating another potential rollaway hazard.

The affected vehicles have 5.7-liter V8 engines and eight-speed automatic transmissions. In total, Dodge expects the necessary fix to pertain to 7,802 vehicles in the United States, 390 in Canada, and 119 more outside of North America.

According to Automotive News, drivers of the vehicles can shift the vehicles into park while the motor is running without the vehicle’s brake actually engaging. Affected cars may even indicate via the shifter and gauge display that the vehicle is in park, without it actually being so.

Since all modern Challengers are outfitted with software that automatically places the car in park when the engine is stopped, there have been no reported incidents. However, a driver who stepped out of the vehicle while it was still running could be forced to go chasing after it.

FCA said in a statement it is also unaware of any injuries or accidents related to the problem, adding that the recall is unrelated to any previous campaign — including the seemingly similar one from 2016.

[Image: FCA]

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  • APaGttH APaGttH on Jul 25, 2017

    2.7 million more vehicles recalled for explosive Takata air bags. Nissan, Ford, and Mazda. Alas, Ford and Mazda likely kept this recall off the pages of TTAC. http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/ct-takata-air-bag-recall-expands-20170712-story.html

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    • Bienville Bienville on Jul 26, 2017

      @JohnTaurus Maybe you missed the part where I said GM/Ford/Chrysler are (and always have been) exempt from the no-recall policy. Tim already had commentary regarding his tongue-to-tailshaft paean for the non review of Honda's untested and unproven 10 speed transmission which is somehow best in class.

  • IHateCars IHateCars on Jul 26, 2017

    "Since all modern Challengers are outfitted with software that automatically places the car in park when the engine is stopped..." Yeah, that doesn't sound like it could be easily hacked through UConnect at all.....

  • EBFlex EBFlex on Jul 26, 2017

    "After a high-profile recall of over 1 million vehicles due to a design flaw associated with the shifter used with the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission," Wow, no biased reporting in that sentence. There is no design flaw. The shifter works exactly as designed. But because some b-list actor died because he chose not to secure his vehicle before exiting, we have to blame evil Chrysler.

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    • EBFlex EBFlex on Jul 27, 2017

      @APaGttH It's not over complicated. If my grandmother who is in her 70s can figure it out, anyone should be able to. If you still struggle with the simple shifter though, then clearly driving is too complicated and your license should be taken away.

  • Cognoscenti Cognoscenti on Jul 27, 2017

    I've been on TTAC from almost the start. I don't want to go spelunking through the posts over all of those years to prove it, but you are a fool if you think that TTAC has not shown bias. The GM-bashing here has been especially prominent.

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