Regulators close probe into Ram 1500, Dodge Durango gear shifters without recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed its investigation into rollaway incidents in certain model Ram 1500 pickup trucks and Dodge Durango SUVs without a recall.

The Office of Defects Investigation "did not find evidence that a vehicle-based design or manufacturing defect was the cause of vehicle rollaway incidents on the subject vehicles," according to an updated report posted Monday on the agency's website from investigator Joseph Oxenham.

The federal agency in 2016 began probing electronic rotary gear shifters supplied by Kostal Automotive in 2013-16 1500s and 2014-16 Durangos. The review subsequently was expanded to the 2017 model year as well, covering more than 1.28 million vehicles.

The dial-like gear selectors were new at the time. Previously, mechanical shifters used a lever to select gears. On the rotary shifter, the driver turns the knob. There's a catch to click into the next gear.

NHTSA and Stellantis NV, previously known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, received reports of 1,448 rollway incidents after the vehicle had been put into park. They included 684 crashes or fires, 149 injuries and one fatality.

The regulator said it didn't find evidence that a design or manufacturing defect caused the rollaways. The automaker also released a software update so the vehicles automatically shift into park when the driver's door opens. NHTSA found the update was "effective in reducing the frequency of vehicle rollaway incidents in the subject vehicles."

There were vehicles that rolled away after the software update, according to NHTSA, but it didn't find an "actionable defect" causing the problem, noting the failure rate was similar to that on other vehicles and there were scenarios such as slippery surfaces or various mechanical failures involved.

"Given the absence of an identified safety defect based on available information and FCA's customer satisfaction campaign which addresses the failure mode," according to the agency, "further action is not warranted at this time."

In a statement, Stellantis spokesperson Eric Mayne said: "We concur with the finding that there is no design defect and are pleased that our update appears to have resonated with customers."

bnoble@detroitnews.com

@BreanaCNoble