Recalled Jeep Killed Star Trek Actor

Actor Anton Yelchin, best known for his role in the recent Star Trek movies, died over the weekend. Mr. Yelchin was reportedly pinned against the gate surrounding his house by his 5,000-pound 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The security gate is at the bottom of the driveway, which is on a steep incline.

It is too early to tell exactly how events resulted in this tragic accident. However, the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Mr. Yelchin owned was subject to a recent manufacturer’s recall. The recall focuses on a design flaw in certain Jeep models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that drivers are not adequately warned if the driver’s door is opened when the Jeep is not in park, allowing them to exit the vehicle while it is still in gear. In such situations, drivers may think the Jeep is safely parked, but the car remains in gear and can roll away. According to NHTSA, over 200 crashes have occurred, resulting in hundreds of property damage claims and 41 injuries.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of how fragile life is and the necessity that we consumers demand that manufacturers do all that is reasonably necessary to keep us safe. After all, we buy their products and they make money.

What Cars Are Affected by This Recall?

After the NHTSA investigation, Fiat-Chrysler recalled just over 811,000 vehicles to update the transmission software relative to this problem. This includes all eight-speed 2012–2014 Dodge Chargers; Chrysler 300 Sedans; and 2014–2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee models.

If you want to know if your specific automobile is subject to this recall, you may enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) at the NHTSA recall website.

What Should I Do If My Car Has Been Recalled?

According to the Fiat-Chrysler website, if your car is subject to this recall,  you should schedule the needed repair with an authorized dealer to have it completed. According to the website, you do not need to bring any documentation with you for this to be done.

Fiat-Chrysler does say that it will be phasing out the confusing gearshift in the coming years.

If you or a loved one has been harmed or injured in an automobile accident and would like to know your rights, please contact the lawyers at Holland & Usry toll-free at 888.230.1841 for a free confidential consultation.