Jeep That Killed 'Star Trek' Actor Had Been Recalled

The Jeep Grand Cherokee that rolled down a driveway and killed "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin had been recalled because the gear-shifter could confuse drivers about whether they were in park or neutral.

Yelchin was killed at his Studio City, California, home Sunday, police said, after momentarily exiting his 2015 Grand Cherokee. It rolled backward down a steep driveway and crushed him against a brick mailbox and a security fence, according to the LAPD's Jenny Houser.

'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin Killed in Car Accident

Fiat Chrysler, which owns Jeep, issued a recall notice to drivers in April about the transmission.

After changing gears, the car's gear-shifter springs back to the middle. Gear-selection is shown by indicator lights, not the position of the shifter. That could leave drivers confused about what gear they are actually in, the notice said.

While a recall notice was issued, a fix was not immediately available, so Fiat Chrysler reiterated to drivers how the gear-shifter works and told them to consult their instruction manuals for further questions, Eric Mayne, a company spokesman, told Patch.

The company also urged drivers to make doubly sure they are in park when getting out of their car.

"ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK that your vehicle is in “PARK” by looking for the 'P' in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or on the shift lever knob," the recall notice said. "Always fully apply the parking brake before exiting the vehicle."

A fix to the issue was originally scheduled for no later than the 2016 fourth quarter, but that timeline was pushed up to July or August of 2016. The solution "will combine warnings with a transmission-shift strategy to automatically prevent a vehicle from moving, under certain circumstances, even if the driver fails to select 'PARK,'" a Fiat Chrysler press release said.

Police have not yet determined the exact cause of the accident. The NHSTA did not immediately return a request for comment from Patch but told The New York Times, "This the first fatality we’re aware of that may be related to this safety defect and vehicle recall.”

In a statement about Yelchin's death, Fiat Chrysler said the company said, "It is premature to speculate on its cause at this time.”

“FCA US extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin," the statement said. "The Company will be conducting a thorough investigation of this tragic incident."

City News Service contributed to this report.

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