Problem occurs when the cruise control accelerates but is short circuited.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has advised owners of the 4.8 million-plus vehicles from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in the United States not to use cruise control. This is because the system may not disengage despite the driver pressing the brakes or manually trying to turn it on. Owners should shift the vehicle into neutral, apply brakes and then park it after stopping.
FCA stated in a statement that this failure would require an “unlikely sequence” of events. A short circuit in the system would require the cruise control to be activated at the same moment that the vehicle is being accelerated, such as for a road grade. The cruise control would then be inactive and the driver wouldn’t have the ability to turn it off. Although the brakes would still be effective, owners would have a much easier time slowing down if they shift into neutral as the cruise is trying to accelerate.
According to the statement, “FCA US is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to the affected vehicles,” said the automaker.
FCA will notify affected owners within the next week and dealers will install updated software for powertrain control module.
Transport Canada reports that the automaker will also recall 490,000. Unknown numbers will also be available in Mexico, and certain markets that are not part of the NAFTA area.