Anti-Lock Brake Problems May Cause Certain Dodge, Jeep Vehicles To “Rollaway” When Parked

Federal highway safety officials have announced a new recall impacting more than 200,000 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles, after a prior recall repair failed to address problems with a defective braking component, which may allow the vehicles to start without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a “rollaway” event.

Vehicle rollaways are dangerous events, in which a vehicle starts rolling without any driver control, usually due to a disengaged parking brake or transmission issue. This can lead to auto accidents or severe injuries for individuals getting into or out of the vehicle, as well as bystanders.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee recall on November 7, indicating that the problems impact certain vehicles from the 2018 to 2019 model years, which may be started and shifted out of “Park” without applying pressure to the brake pedal.

The Dodge and Jeep rollaway risks appear to be caused by issues with the vehicles’ anti-lock brake system (ABS) control modules, which are a safety feature that is intended to automatically pump the brakes to prevent them from locking up during a sudden stop.

The ABS issues could also disable the electronic stability control (ESC) systems on the vehicles, which are intended to help stabilize the car during a momentary loss of control, such as skidding or loss of traction. When the ESC is disabled, drivers may experience issues controlling the vehicle in certain driving situations, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners are being warned that there may be no indication of a failure in ABS or ESC systems until after it occurs. Once the failure happens, the ABS, ESC and red ‘Brake’ warning indicator lights will illuminate at vehicle startup, indicating that the systems are unavailable. Customers may also notice that the brake lights remain on after parking or turning off the vehicle.

While the manufacturer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA US, LLC), is unaware of any injuries or accidents related to the malfunction, a chronology report indicates that at least 533 warranty claims may have been submitted between October 2019 and August 2024, which could be related to these issues.

Dodge and Jeep Rollaway Investigation

FCA US first became aware of the rollaway issue in October 2021, when customers reported that brake lights remained on after certain Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles were turned off. A recall was then issued for the affected vehicles in June 2022, to address the problem.

However, in September 2024, the manufacturer discovered that the rollaway issue was not solved by the prior recall repairs. As a result, the manufacturer reopened cases on all previously repaired vehicles, to apply a new solution, eventually deciding to conduct a second voluntary safety recall.

The current recall impacts 206,502 vehicles from the 2018 through 2019 model years, including 48,448 Dodge Durango and 158,054 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles, which were distributed for sale to dealers across the U.S.

The solution for this recall is still under development, and vehicle owners are expected to begin receiving notification letters on December 5, 2024. Additional information will be provided as the solution is finalized.

FCA US submitted a General Reimbursement Plan for owners to receive reimbursement for costs related to the recall.

FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is 94B. Customers may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or the manufacturer’s contact for this recall, Emily C. Smith, by email at emily.c.smith@dot.gov. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Previous Rollaway Recalls

Parked vehicles moving or rolling from a stationary position can pose significant danger to both occupants getting into or out of the vehicle, as well as those nearby, potentially resulting in serious and life-threatening injuries.

While rollaway accidents are rare, they can have devastating consequences. Nearly ten years ago, the family of an up-and-coming actor filed a wrongful death lawsuit after a Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backward after it was placed in park, alleging that the shifter defect that was responsible for the tragedy had caused at least 300 other accidents.

Similar problems have also impacted other auto-makers, with a Kia Telluride recall issued earlier this year, impacting more than 400,000 vehicles that contained a defect in the driveshaft, which may not properly engage and increased the risk of a rollaway when parked.

Similarly, in 2023, a Ford Explorer recall and a Ram Promaster Van recall were announced due to an increased risk of rollaways, caused by a software malfunction and a driveshaft defect, respectively.