Here’s The Problem With The Gear Selector That Might Have Led To Anton Yelchin's Death

Fiat Chrysler's electronic gear shifter has been causing confusion and is thought to have contributed to hundreds of rollaway incidents - including the one that claimed the life of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin. But why has it been catching people out?

Matt Robinson

27 Jun 2016

It’s been previously stated by the NHTSA that this electronic shifter - manufactured by German firm ZF - is responsible for hundreds of crashes. As explained and demonstrated by The Fast Lane Car in the video above, the problem stems from the fact that the shifter returns to the centre position after every selection. Unlike many automatic gearbox selectors, it doesn’t have a park button either.

Here’s The Problem With The Gear Selector That Might Have Led To Anton Yelchin's Death

A rollaway incident involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee fitted with one of the problematic shifters claimed the life of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin, after he was pinned between the unsecured vehicle and a pillar on his driveway. Cars with the shifter were actually recalled by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) back in April to have new software installed that applies the parking brake if the car’s still in neutral when the door is opened. It’s currently unknown if Yelchin’s car had been given the new software, although given the nature of the tragic accident, we’d assume not.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

I actually have the opposite problem when I drive my dad’s CLA 45. It has a selector similar to the jeep - it stays in the middle. I am used to applying my own parking brake, but the Mercedes applies it on its own when you stop the car. So I stop, turn the engine off and then the car puts itself in park. Then I instinctively press the park button and wind up taking it out of park!

It also works the other way - park will be disabled when drive is pushed automatically. I think that could be quite dangerous if you’re used to engaging/disengaging yourself.

Most of european automatics (all bmw’s, mercs, all paddle-gearbox supercars etc.) have these kinds of gear levers. And I haven’t heard that people can’t use them properly.

may I remind everyone of a thing called handbrake?

funny that just the americans have problems with that kind of sh*t…

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It all comes back to people not paying attention….there can’t be a recall on lack of common sense. the prius has a shifter that returns to center as well. You don’t hear about anything funky there.