Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling Fiat 500 models from the 2012 and 2013 model years due to rollaway risks, according to documents filed by the automaker with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on November 15.
Based on the documents, the problem stems from a faulty shift cable bushing. A total of 51,788 models with six-speed automatic transmission are affected by the issue. But owners of Fiat 500s with manual transmission can breathe a sigh of relief as they are excluded in the recall.
According to FCA, in the event that the shifter cable detaches from the transmission due to a bushing that has deteriorated over time, it’s possible for the transmission to not shift into the gear selected by the driver.driv
If the owner puts the car in Drive, for example, the car might be in another gear instead. Another possible scenario is when the driver puts the car in Park, there is a chance the car would be in a different gear, causing the car to roll away. This increases the risk of crashing and injury.
The automaker said in a statement it is aware of three “minor accidents” that may be related to the issue.
Drivers are likely to notice some sort of resistance when using the gear selector, but it may not actually be in the desired gear. If this happens, the instrument cluster will work as a backup and show the correct gear if the shift cable gets detached.
FCA instructs affected owners to bring their cars to the dealership, where a technician will replace the shifter cable adjuster free of charge. Owners may expect to receive the recall notifications from the company beginning January 4.
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