The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching an investigation into nearly 1 million Ram 1500 and Dodge Durango vehicles related to reports of roll-away accidents. The review is focused on the vehicles that are equipped with the rotary transmission shifter. The investigation includes 2013 – 2016 Ram 1500 trucks and 2014 – 2016 Dodge Durango SUVs.
According to this Autonews report, the NHTSA has recorded 25 vehicle crashes/incidents and nine injuries related to roll-away in the Ram and Dodge vehicles listed here.
What should owners of affected vehicles do? There is no resolution or recall announced at this time. The company and the government agency urge owners to apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle. Here is the official statement from FCA on this matter:
FCA US is cooperating fully with NHTSA’s investigation, the scope of which is limited. Other vehicles equipped with rotary shifters are not included. In accordance with prudent practice, the Company joins NHTSA in urging all drivers to use their vehicles’ parking brakes.
This investigation is separate and unrelated to the one involving the roll-away crashes with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and other FCA passenger cars.
Here a 2016 Ram 1500 HEMI tackling the extreme Ike Gauntlet towing review. TFLtruck has not experienced a roll-away incident in the Ram or Dodge vehicles that we tested.
