Jeep involved in actor Anton Yelchin's death was recalled over parking gear defect

Actor Anton Yelchin was killed by his Jeep Grand Cherokee

(Image credit: Francois Nel/Getty for Paramount Pictures)

published 21 June 2016

On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the vehicle that pinned 27-year-old Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin to his gate on Saturday, in a freak accident that killed him, was a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. In April, Fiat Chrysler recalled 811,586 vehicles, including 2015 Grand Cherokees, in the U.S. for a defect in which some drivers couldn't tell if their electronic gear shift was in Park. "Drivers erroneously concluding that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in its April 22 recall report.

That sounds similar to Yelchin's accident, according to LAPD police spokeswoman Jenny Houser. Yelchin's "fatal traffic collision" was "the result of the victim's own car rolling backward down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence," she said. "It appeared (Yelchin) had momentarily exited his car, leaving it in the driveway."

The NHTSA was noncommittal, saying late Monday both that Yelchin's death is "the first fatality we're aware of that may be related to this safety defect and vehicle recall," and also that the agency is "in contact with local authorities and Fiat Chrysler to understand all of the facts related to this tragic crash, including whether or not this was caused by the current issue under recall." Fiat Chrysler offered its "most sincere condolences" to Yelchin's family and friends, and said, "It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy." It is not known yet if Yelchin received a recall notice, why he left his vehicle, or what gear his Jeep was in.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.