Fiat Chrysler To Look Into Star Trek Actor's Death As Soon As It Can

The proper response is for FCA to investigate IMMEDIATELY, not ASAP since it does not indicate any urgency on their part. Big companies still don't get it.

And if the authorities will not give them immediate access to the vehicle and the ability to determine what gear it was in, if the parking brake was set, etc. etc. what are they supposed to do? Note that some press releases quote police as saying the gear selector position was in "neutral". It is a joystick;it always returns to the neutral position no matter what gear it is in.

AMEN. This is a PR disaster and they are botching it.

FCA said “We need to get through the normal investigation process. Until that point, as I said, I think there’s been enough speculation.”

What kind of response is this when you have 1.1 million cars being recalled for a problem suspiciously similar to the cause of the fatal accident ? it's not too hard to speculate they are one and the same issue.

First, if you follow "Airplane Disaster" on Smithsonian, many times initial speculation is often wrong or incomplete. Good investigators carefully sort through many possibilities with an open mind and take into account all the variables to find an accident is usually the result of a series of issues coming together. "Ready Fire Aim" usually misses the mark

Second FCA already knew it had a problem and
1. several weeks FCA ago sent a recall notice to all owners saying there was an issue and restating the importance of visually verifying that it is in park (on the shifter and in the cluster) and setting the parking brake before exiting the vehicle with the engine running. A fix was coming and they would be notified when to go to their dealer.
2. The fix actually went out to some dealers days before the incident. It is a 2.5 hour update of 4 software modules that puts the vehicle in park if you open the door and your set belt is not fastened while the engine is running and it isn't in park. Essentially what Matt suggested in an earlier post.
3. The first fix was done on Monday morning after the tragic incident. Details on the Jeep Garage Forum.

As an owner I have been a sharp critic of FCA dragging its feet in performing recalls, Jeep in particular. But as an 2015 GC owner (who doesn't like this shifter) I have to say they are much improved. I know I have been warned and advised, so there is some culpability on my part if there is an incident. That could be a factor that is determined in this case.

@Vette71: My point was really simple: when facing a critical and massive recall, a fatal accident of a Hollywood personality and a potential media blow up, the company should show urgency in its response rather than stonewalling. The FCA's statement I quoted clearly shows that.

Spin it whichever way you want, FCA will appreciate your understanding and support. The consumer in general will not be so kind. FCA, including the GC product line, does not have very stellar record to begin with, it should try to show it wants to be in business for a while longer.

@Vette71: A person lost his life in the accident. Calling it an INCIDENT implies some deliberation. You should know the difference.

Memo to Jeep: Next time express your sincere sorrow for the loss of a life and promptly follow up with the Musk/Tesla method. Quickly blame the operator of the vehicle for not being careful. Like someone hitting the accelerator instead of the brake is considered careless, someone who doesn't check to see if it was in park and set the parking brake on a hill is equally careless. Its in the owners manual plus the owner just got a postcard reminder to do that. Its not the fault of the vehicle. Amen.

Chrysler sez, "Does 2019 sound soon enough?"