Fiat Chrysler Automobiles's U.S. (IW 1000/27) unit on Monday recalled about 67,000 older-model Dodge and Mitsubishi pickup trucks which can be started while in gear, a problem linked to one death.
The recall involves 66,819 Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram and Mitsubishi Raider manual transmission trucks of the model-years 2006 and 2007. Nearly all the trucks are in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FCA US said a spring wire in the trucks' clutch-ignition interlock switches could break, making it possible for the truck to be started and begin moving while in gear without depressing the clutch.
The company said it knew of one death stemming from a single accident related to the problem.
FCA said it would replace the clutch ignition interlock switches. In the meantime it advised drivers to only start them while in neutral and with the parking brake engaged.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014
