• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Riverside
  • Weather
  • Huge Fire Damages Businesses in Industrial Area of Compton
  • L.A. Street Sweeping To Become Bi-Weekly Starting Monday
  • COVID-Related Pediatric Inflammatory Syndrome Reaches 100 Cases In LA County
  • Huge Fire Burns in Industrial Area of Compton
  • IID Crews Work to Restore Electricity to Customers Near Salton Sea

Home » Crime » This Article

Star Trek actor’s death not unique? Jeep owners sue over SUV danger

Posted by Hillary Jackson on June 23, 2016 in Crime | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Jeep Grand Cherokee owners Thursday filed suit against Fiat Chrysler, alleging the automaker concealed and failed to fix a shifter design defect linked to driverless rollaway accidents, including the death this week in Studio City of “Star Trek” actor Anton Yelchin.

The proposed class-action complaint — filed in Riverside’s U.S. District Court — alleges that the design flaw affects 811,000 vehicles, including 2014-2015 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees, 2012-2014 Chrysler 300s and 2012-2014 Dodge Chargers.

Fiat Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese said the automaker has not been served with the lawsuit and it would be “inappropriate” to comment at this time.

The lawsuit contends that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV concealed both its shifter design defect and hundreds of related accidents that caused property damage and injuries.

The plaintiffs also allege that the “raft of negative publicity” surrounding the recent disclosure of the problem has greatly diminished the resale value of their vehicles.

According to the complaint, the defect that has been responsible for at least 41 injuries, and possibly caused the death of Yelchin, who was killed in his driveway when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled down his driveway and pinned him against his brick mailbox.

“In making these vehicles, Fiat Chrysler failed at adequately and responsibly designing one of the most basic safety features — the gear shifter,” said Steve Berman, the attorney whose firm filed the suit. “The current shifters in these affected vehicles leave drivers with insufficient feedback to tell whether the car has actually been placed in park before they exit the vehicle, and it does not have a safety override that automatically puts the car in ‘park’ if the driver’s door is opened and pressure taken off the foot brake.”

Fiat Chrysler initiated a recall of 1.1 million cars worldwide equipped with the defectively designed shifter but has yet to provide any fix.

The lawsuit seeks recovery for vehicles owners’ losses including diminished vehicle value due to the design defect, as well as recoveries for other damages and an injunctive order to end Fiat Chrysler’s allegedly deceptive practices.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

— Wire reports 

Star Trek actor’s death not unique? Jeep owners sue over SUV danger was last modified: June 23rd, 2016 by Hillary Jackson

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged anton yelchin, driverless rollaway, Fiat Chrysler, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Michael Palese, Star Trek

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
66°
Sunny
Feels like: 66°F
Wind: 2mph SE
Humidity: 11%
Pressure: 30.06"Hg
UV index: 4
SatSunMon
73/48°F
70/45°F
72/46°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Wife Allegedly Helped Hubby’s Repeated Sex Assaults On Young Teen Girl Relative: Wife Pleads ‘Not Guilty,’ Victim Gives Birth 2,400 views
  • Nude Photos, ‘Three-Way’ Forced Ex-Rep. Katie Hill To Resign: She Got TRO Against Ex-Hubby For Abuse, But They May Now Settle 2,200 views
  • Homeless Woman Raped, Then Found Dead On Pomona Street: Homeless Suspect Says ‘Not Guilty’ 2,000 views
  • Missing San Jacinto Man’s Body Found in a Menifee Lake 1,600 views
  • One Killed, One Wounded in Car to Car Shooting in Gardena 1,200 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service