Posted on 06/20/2016 1:45:01 PM PDT by SMGFan
The gear shifters in Anton Yelchin’s SUV are being looked at as the possible culprit in the accident that killed the 27-year-old actor on Sunday.
Most 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee are part of a global recall that was announced by Fiat Chrysler, who makes Jeeps, in April due to a confusing electronic shift lever.
“FCA US extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “The company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation. It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy.”
Yelchin was killed after his Jeep rolled backwards, pinning him against a brick mailbox at his Studio City home. He was discovered by friends early Sunday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at treknews.net ...
I rented one of these a couple of times.
The shifter is kind of funky.
My older Grand Cherokee was much better with the shifter.
Christine
Yep, I rented one too, in late 2014. Nice SUV, but I didn’t care for the shifter. I rented another one more recently and noticed the shifter was a more conventional style and shape.
Uh, that’s why they put a steering wheel in the veh and suggest that when parked on a hill, an appropriate wheel angle be selected.
Thanks for the reminder. I have a service call on Thursday to fix a possible issue with a wiring harness.
I might catch fire.
Hope I don’t.
It does not look like the “SUV” killed anyone. It looks like the driver got out of the vehicle while driving and was crushed to death. Sad and tragic, but SUV didn’t kill.
1998 was the last good year for Grand Cherokees.
I’m lookng for another one to replace my 2009 Jeep Liberty.
I never should have traded my old one in.
Yep. Chintzy lever that returns to a middle position so looking at it doesn’t reveal whether it is in park or not.
With the arrival of electronic rather than mechanical shifting, a lot of vehicles have floppy little joystick shifters.
Those SUVs tend to have antisocial behavior.
Acting out and being violent and the like.
Its typically due to poor parenting by the SUVs family.
Looking at buying one to pull behind the motorhome.
Drove a 2016 and the shifter seemed normal, must have changed after 2015?
1998 was the last good year for Grand Cherokees.
They’re pretty good but not really off-roaders. I’ve gone through both my axles - swapped the rear and rebuilt the front. A CJ it ain’t, but unlike a CJ you can drive it 75 mph without taking your life in your hands.
I believe they changed during the 2015 model year.
Between SUV deaths, gun violence, food deserts and drug overdosing: we are a doomed species.
All the “product liability” vultures are circling and the body is not cold!!!
Lot of crappy shifters out there now. People were used to the normal layout for decades and we are suddenly flooded with odd layouts. BMW is another one.
I like that “new” shifter that has numbers 1-4 and and R!
“It does not look like the “SUV” killed anyone. It looks like the driver got out of the vehicle while driving and was crushed to death. Sad and tragic, but SUV didn’t kill.”
So says you! Well, that SUV is just a “masked AR-15” wandering the highways looking for someone to run down! All of our mechanical contrivances today have ulterior motives and don’t need any human intervention to murder us. (s)
Is there not still a Park Brake to set?
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