WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is investigating Fiat Chrysler's Ram and Dodge pickups and SUVs for possible faulty shifters that can cause rollaways.
More than 1 million vehicles are involved in the preliminary investigation of the problem, which has been linked to 25 accidents and nine injuries. The agency said it received 43 complaints from owners whose vehicles allegedly rolled after the drivers shifted into the park position.
"The reports alleged that the unintended motion occurred after the driver moved the transmission gear selector to park and exited the vehicle," an NHTSA statement said. "Thirty-four of the reports alleged that the vehicle was moving while the shifter indicated that it was in the park position."
Ram 1500 pickup trucks manufactured between 2013-16 and Dodge Durangos made between 2014-16 are the focus of the investigation. The transmissions in question use electronic shifters -- a rotary dial on the vehicle's center console -- to change gears, rather than the traditional mechanical levers. The agency is also investigating similar problems with Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, which also have electronic shifters.
Fiat Chrysler is cooperating with the investigation, "the scope of which is limited," NHTSA spokesman Eric Mayne told USA Today.
The investigation is similar to one launched earlier this year after transmission problems were noted in Fiat Chrysler's Jeep products. In one incident, actor Anton Yelchin died when his Jeep Cherokee rolled away and pinned him against a fence.
