Dodge Pulls Darts Over Rollaway Concerns
» Posted June 7, 2019 • Resources | Share This Post
When you put your car in park and get out, you usually expect it to still be in the same place when you come back.
Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 300,000 Dodge Dart vehicles because of a gear selector problem that could cause the cars to unexpectedly roll away. The company says the transmission in an affected car may not change gears when a driver shifts into park.
“The shifter cable bushing on the transmission end of the shifter cable could deteriorate and become detached from the transmission,” the company said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Detachment “could result in the inability of the driver to actually shift the transmission, even though the driver may move the shifter handle.”
In other words, a car may remain in neutral, drive or reverse after the driver shits the gear selector to park. That poses the serious risk of an accident.
“There will not be any prior warning of shifter cable detachment from the transmission,” Fiat Chrysler said in the notice.
The recall covers certain 2013-2016 Dodge Dart vehicles with six-speed automatic transmissions. Fiat Chrysler began notifying owners and lessors of the issue in late May. The company says it will send a second notice when dealers are prepared to start inspecting those vehicles and replacing defective parts, free of charge.
Recent Fiat Chrysler Recalls
The Dart recall is not the only safety issue facing Fiat Chryslers and people who drive the company’s cars.
The automaker recently recalled some 1.1 million Ram trucks over a defect it said could cause the cars’ tailgates to fly open without warning. Six months later, Fiat Chrysler recalled nearly 800,000 trucks because of steering and break issues that could leave drivers unable to properly control or stop their vehicles.
The company also recently agreed to pay $110 million to settle an investor class action lawsuit over emissions cheating allegations. Earlier this year, Fiat Chrysler agreed to fork over another $800 million in fines related to similar accusations.
How a California Lemon Law Attorney Can Help You
The California lemon law offers some important protections for car owners and lessors across the Golden State.
The law requires car makers to perform certain repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty and to take those cars back if they cannot be fixed. The manufacturer also has to reimburse the owner or lessor for the purchase price, financing charges and other related expenses. The car maker can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but the choice is ultimately up to the owner or lessor.
The California Lemon law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have decades of combined experience, representing hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
