300,000 Dodge Darts are at Risk of Rolling Away

Dodge Dart owners should be aware of a potentially dangerous problem: Your cars may roll away.

A shifter cable problem in some 300,000 vehicles could cause them to roll away while parked, the automaker recently told federal regulators. The cables could detach from the transmission, according to public documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“A failure of the shift cable to maintain connection to the transmission can cause an unexpected and unrecoverable loss of PARK ("LoP") function and/or a vehicle movement in an unintended direction,” Dodge said in a recall notice. “A LoP function and/or vehicle movement in an unintended direction can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside the vehicle.”

The recall covers certain Dart vehicles from model years 2013 to 2016. The automaker said it planned to notify owners of recalled cars via mail by mid-November. Dart drivers can also check the NHTSA website to see if their cars are covered.

The problem, however, is that Dodge has not yet come up with a fix for the problem. “The remedy is under development,” the company told NHTSA.

Stellantis, a massive conglomerate that owns Dodge and several other brands, has been struggling with similar issues. The company earlier this year called back more than 60,000 Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicles over a defect that could cause them to lose power and the parking function.

Legal Rights for Car Owners in California

These kinds of recalls are old hat for the world’s leading automakers. They recall millions of vehicles each year for defects and malfunctions that pose serious safety risks.

The recalls are commonly announced long after defective cars have left factory floors and hit the road. Even when automakers eventually call back vehicles, they often struggle to properly fix the issues.

Fortunately, Californians have some important rights and protections when it comes to malfunctioning and defective cars. You do not need to wait around for a recall to get your car fixed, with the vehicle manufacturer picking up the tab.

The California lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back covered vehicles that they are not able or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk with a San Diego Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a San Diego lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a San Diego lemon law attorney.