(Reuters) -The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday it opened a recall query into about 299,000 vehicles from Chrysler parent Stellantis, after receiving complaints about faulty shifter cable bushings.
A bushing, usually made of rubber, connects the shifter cable to the transmission system, allowing the vehicle to change gears. If the bushing is damaged or missing, the vehicle could move in an unexpected direction.
The auto safety agency said Fiat Chrysler in April 2019 had issued a recall on certain Dodge Dart vehicles produced between February 2012 and October 2014 in order to replace the bushing. The updated part prevented deterioration from chemicals, oils, and solvents.
However, the NHTSA received 44 consumer complaints alleging worn, misadjusted or detached shifter cables after the recall remedy was completed.
The NHTSA said its Office of Defects Investigation launched the latest investigation to evaluate whether the original recall fix was effective, determine what caused the bushing failures, and explore any other factors that could impact how the shifter cable functions.
A recall query is an investigation opened by safety regulators when a remedy to solve an issue appears inadequate.
(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
