As more standard safety mechanisms in regular vehicles fail, auto makers are urged to rethink their upcoming model designs to avoid unexpected accidents caused by mechanical errors. Known auto brand Fiat Chrysler has been in the papers lately over new reports surfacing of incidents caused by an error in its shifter design.

A RoadandTrack report stated that Fiat Chrysler has voluntarily recalled around 812K Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge models following an NHTSA investigation. The reason behind: drivers erroneously exiting their vehicles without switching it to Park.

Some 2012-2014 Chrysler 300 models, Dodge models of the same year lineup, as well as 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees are among Fiat Chrysler's vehicles affected as these were said to be the ones supplied the electronic shifter from its ZF supplier. The shifter in these affected cars function in a way by returning center after the driver selects gears, enabling its motion range to act short compared to a regular mechanical shifter.

Other auto makers like Audi have used this same type of e-shifter, and the NHTSA investigation revealed that all 41 incidents pointed to driver error and that all of the vehicles involved had not shown mechanical malfunctions at the time. Still, the NHTSA said that the shifter's function is vague enough to protect drivers who are unable to determine the engine running even if it was on shut-off, as per the news agency.

Fiat Chrysler said that a fix for the shifter issue would be the addition of dashboard displays as well as emergency warning chimes, which would alert the driver prior to exiting the vehicle when it is still actually in gear, Truck Trend reported. FCA also plans to install an upgraded transmission software which would automatically disable the vehicle from moving especially under instances when the driver unexpectedly fails to set it to Park.

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