The five million car recall with no crashes (so far)

Today, FCA announced that it was recalling 4.8 million cars and trucks in the US, as well as an unnamed number elsewhere in the world, to fix a rare condition in which the cruise control could get stuck and refuse to shut off.  

The solution for drivers in this case would be to stop the vehicle (all FCA cars and trucks have a brake override that cuts power when the brakes are fully activated), then shift into Park. That will cancel the cruise control. If the cruise refuses to stop, drivers can shift into Neutral and then stop and shift into Park.

The problem only arises in a specific case, where the cruise control is accelerating the car and a specific electrical network short-circuits. The company claims that it is unaware of any related crashes, though the affected vehicles were made for six model years and have travelled roughly 200 billion miles. The solution is a firmware update.

Notices to customers will begin as early as next week, but in the meantime, FCA advises owners not to use cruise control. Affected vehicles all have automatic transmissions and gasoline engines, in the following series:

Chrysler: 2015-17 Chrysler 200, 2014-18 Chrysler 300, 2017-18 Chrysler Pacifica

Dodge: 2015-18 Challenger, 2014-18 Charger, Journey, and Durango

Fiat: “Certain” Freemonts

Jeep: 2014-18 Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, 2018 Wrangler

Ram: 2014-19 Ram 1500, 2014-18 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 (both pickups and chassis cabs)

FCA’s recall information center can be reached at 866-220-6747.  (Via AutoGuide).