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FCA, a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is
recalling an estimated 66,819 pickup trucks from model years
2006 and 2007 after engineers discovered clutch interlock
switches may be equipped with spring wire that differs from wire
used in previous switches, the company said.
The alternate wire may break, causing the vehicle not to start
or in rare cases result in unintended movement when the ignition
key is turned, the company said.
FCA said it is aware of one fatality related to the recall
stemming from an accident. In May, the U.S. National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation after the
fatality.
In the incident, a young child was able to enter a 2006 Ram 3500
truck and start the ignition without the clutch depressed,
according to documents filed with NHTSA. The vehicle then moved
forward and struck and killed another child.
The recall covers certain Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and
3500, and Mitsubishi Raider pickups. Switches with the alternate
wire were not used in any vehicles made before July 2005 or
after June 2006.
The Dakota and Raider, built under contract for Mitsubishi, are
no longer made.
An estimated 54,558 of the trucks are in the United States,
4,356 in Canada, 7,648 in Mexico and 257 outside of North
America, FCA said.
Owner notification is expected to begin Feb. 13, FCA said. In
the interim, customers are advised to follow recommended
procedures for starting their vehicles, including activating the
parking brake, placing the shift lever in neutral and pressing
the clutch pedal before turning the ignition key.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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