The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded its investigation into complaints of rollaway incidents, initially launched in late 2016, involving 1.2 million 2013–2017 Ram 1500 pickup trucks and 2014–2017 Dodge Durango SUVs. The outcome of the seven-year probe indicates that the vehicles will not be subject to a recall.
Dodge Durango
NHTSA determined that automaker Stellantis adequately addressed the issue by proposing the installation of AutoPark on the affected vehicles, a feature that automatically engages the park mode if the driver attempts to exit when the vehicle is not truly in park. The investigation, which amassed 1448 reports of incidents, including 149 injuries and one fatality, concluded that equipping vehicles with AutoPark proved effective in reducing the frequency of rollaway incidents.
NHTSA found no actionable defect causing the rollaway incidents and stated in its January 25, 2024 summary that Stellantis provided the upgrade to nearly 1.2 million customers.
In 2016, the investigation was initiated in response to complaints about rollaway incidents involving 2013–2016 Ram 1500 trucks and 2014–2016 Dodge Durango SUVs equipped with electronic rotary transmission shifters. The investigation covered around 1 million vehicles and revealed no rollaway incidents when the parking brakes were engaged.
The Office of Defects Investigation received 43 complaints, citing nine injuries and 25 crashes. Stellantis cooperated with NHTSA’s investigation, emphasizing that the scope was limited to specific vehicles with rotary shifters.
The company urged all drivers to use parking brakes as a safety precaution. The shifter involved in this investigation differs from the electronic “Monostable” shifter, subject to a global recall of over 1.1 million FCA vehicles, linked to injuries and crashes.
