5.3M Cars Recalled Because 'Drivers May Not Be Able to Turn Off Cruise Control' (freep.com)

An anonymous reader quotes the Associated Press: Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 5.3 million vehicles in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere because in rare but terrifying circumstances, drivers may not be able to turn off the cruise control. The company is warning owners not to use cruise control until the cars, SUVs and trucks can be fixed with a software update. Fiat Chrysler says the condition can occur if the cruise control accelerates at the same time an electrical short-circuit happens. But the brakes are designed to overpower the engine and the vehicles could still be stopped...

In the complaint filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an owner from Olathe, Kansas, said a 2017 Dodge Journey SUV rental vehicle was being driven about 70 miles per hour with the cruise control on when the windshield wipers came on by themselves and the throttle locked up. The owner, who was not identified in the agency's complaint database, wrote that the cruise control would not disengage by tapping the brakes or turning off the button. The driver was able to slam on the brakes and get the SUV to the side of the road. "It was still running at an engine speed to support 70 mph and fighting the brakes," the driver wrote. The engine stop button also wouldn't work, but the driver was able to halt the SUV and shift into park while the brakes "smoked significantly."
The recall "includes 15 Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and Ram models from six model years" which have automatic transmissions and gas engines, according to the Associated Press -- 4.8 million in America, plus another 490,000 in Canada and "an undetermined number" in other countries.

You can check if your vehicle is affected by this (or any other) recall by entering its VIN number at NHTSA.gov. U.S. safety officials suggest checking whether your vehicle has been recalled "at least twice per year."

Comments

Electronics

[networkzombie]

Shift into neutral. If your transmission has only electronic controls, then you really do not ever have control of your car. I once had an object obstruct the carburetor throttle on my old Buick (an acorn left by a squirrel). When the car kept going 70 after hitting the brakes, I immediately shifted to neutral. I could actually keep driving by shifting between neutral and drive (bad for tranny but kept me going). Every time I use cruise control I am horrifically aware that I am putting my life in the hands of some under paid programmer. I don't want to get a new car because I like my key. My key can turn off the engine without locking the steering wheel or turning off the any electronics like my radio or Bluetooth (Acura). My step mother forgets to turn off her car because she takes her key fob when leaving but forgetting to push a button. People leaving these types of cars on in their garage have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many electronics in vehicles are solutions looking for a problem. If you need a damn key fob, why not just stick it in and turn it? Remember having to get your ass up to change the TV channel? Now get off my lawn!

Re:Analogue Panic/Stop Button Wouldn't Help?

[drinkypoo]

You also need: non-electronic steering and a functional (physical) handbrake. The latter is mandated by law iirc, not sure about the former?

You don't need non-electronic steering, but you do need a physical handbrake. Unfortunately, those are an endangered species. Most vehicles worth more than a couple of dollars now have an "EPB" or electric parking brake. My D2 Audi A8 has a real handbrake with a cable and a handle and everything, but the D3 has an EPB and you have to use a scan tool just to change the rear brakes (or hook up 12v directly to the EPB motor...)

Steer by wire can still steer even if the power goes completely dead, as long as the wires between the steering column and the steering rack are retained. There's a motor/generator at both ends. Steering will get a bit wonky, with the wheel position unrelated to the steering angle, but you can still steer. I think it's a dumb idea though, and I want a physical linkage between my wheel and the front wheels just on principle.

Also, you didn't mention brake-by-wire, but all current systems are actually a normal ABS system behind the scenes. In normal operation, there is no connection between your foot and the actual brakes; the pressure from the hydraulic system is read, translated into a number, and that number is used to apply the brakes on your behalf. In that way, the braking force can be moderated without any shuddering in the pedal. If the power to the ABS controller goes out, a solenoid valve fails open and makes a hydraulic connection directly to the brakes (which you operate manually) so that it also has a sane failure mode.

EPBs are still garbage, though.