Fiat-Chrysler is initiating a recall for 7,802 Dodge Challengers from the 2017 model year in the United States, along with 390 in Canada and 119 in other countries, due to a parking safety issue, as reported by Automotive News.
The recall affects vehicles equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The problem arises when the vehicle can appear to be in park while it is actually not, despite the shifter and instrumentation indicating otherwise. The company plans to rectify this by updating the transmission software to better assist drivers in securing their vehicles in park.
Currently, the affected vehicles feature software that is designed to shift the car into park if the ignition is turned off, which aims to prevent drivers from exiting a running car and potentially allowing it to roll away.
This recall follows a major incident last year when over 1 million FCA vehicles were recalled globally due to a rollaway risk linked to the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, known for its distinctive mushroom-shaped shifter. Owners of the Dodge Challenger models included in this latest recall are advised to use the parking brake if they need to exit the vehicle while it is still running, until the issue is resolved.
It’s worth noting that opting for a manual transmission could have prevented this situation altogether..
