Fiat Chrysler recalls nearly 5 million vehicles that could get stuck in cruise control

Check the list and don’t use cruise control until you get your car serviced, FCA says

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Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has announced a massive recall of 4.8 million vehicles in the United States over concerns that they could get stuck in cruise control, the company announced today. FCA is urging customers with affected vehicles to avoid using cruise control until they visit a service center to have the car’s software upgraded. Fiat Chrysler says it is “unaware of any related injuries or accidents involving the affected vehicles.”

The problem in question can arise when these vehicles accelerate while using cruise control, either by the driver applying the throttle or the system speeding up to maintain the desired speed. While unlikely, FCA says, there’s a chance that this could happen at the same time as a short circuit in a “specific electrical network” in the car, which could leave the car stuck in cruise control.

In this situation, it apparently wouldn’t be possible to cancel cruise control by tapping the brakes or using the buttons on the car’s steering wheel. Cruise control could still be “overpowered by the vehicle’s brakes” or stopped by “shifting into neutral and braking accordingly,” FCA says.

FCA says it will alert affected customers starting next week, and it will upgrade the software on these cars to fix the potential issue free of charge. The company is working with the North American Free Trade Agreement’s vehicle safety and regulatory compliance office to handle an unidentified number of additional affected vehicles in Canada, Mexico, and “certain markets outside the NAFTA region.” Concerned customers can call 866-220-6747 or their dealers for more information. Here’s a list of affected vehicles:

• 2015-17 Chrysler 200 sedan
• 2014-18 Chrysler 300 sedan
• 2017-18 Chrysler Pacifica minivan
• 2015-18 Dodge Challenger coupe
• 2014-18 Dodge Charger sedan
• 2014-18 Dodge Journey CUV
• 2014-18 Dodge Durango SUV
• 2014-18 Jeep Cherokee SUV
• 2014-18 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV
• 2018 Jeep Wrangler
• 2014-19 Ram 1500 pickup
• 2014-18 Ram 2500 pickup
• 2014-18 Ram 3500 pickup
• 2014-18 Ram 3500 cab chassis
• 2014-18 Ram 4500/5500 cab chassis