Safety Recall VB4 – Shift Cable – 2012-2013 Fiat 500

November 15, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000

Shifter Cable Bushing May Detach From Transmission

If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817

Manufacturer Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Components POWER TRAIN

Potential Number of Units Affected 51,788

 

Summary

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.

 

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is VB4.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

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New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – VB4

 

FCA US LLC (FCA US) has announced a safety recall on certain 2012 and 2013 Model Year Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.  

 

 

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

Some of the above vehicles may have been built with a shifter cable bushing on the transmission end of the shifter cable could deteriorate and become detached from the transmission which could result in the inability of the driver to actually shift the transmission, even though the driver may move the shifter handle. If the shifter cable becomes detached from the transmission, the vehicle may not perform the shifts intended by the driver. The true transmission gear position will be displayed on the instrument cluster and on the display next to the shifter. If these warnings are not heeded, unintended vehicle movement and vehicle crash can occur.

 

SERVICE ACTION

FCA US will conduct a Voluntary Safety Recall to replace the shift cable adjuster, which contains a more robust bushing, in all of the affected vehicles. This recall is estimated to launch in the 1st Quarter of 2020.

 

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January 2020

Dealer Service Instructions for:

Safety Recall VB4 / NHTSA 19V-817 Gear Shift Cable

 

Remedy Available

 

NOTE:  This recall applies only to the above vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission. 

IMPORTANT:  Some of the vehicles within the above build period have already been inspected or repaired and, therefore, have been excluded from this recall.

 

Subject

The shift cable adjuster on about 65,000 of the above vehicles may have a bushing which will deteriorate and allow the shift cable to detach from the transmission. If this happens, the vehicle may not perform the shifts intended by the driver, which could lead to unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash could occur.

 

Repair

Replace the transmission shift cable adjuster on the transmission end of the shifter cable.

 

Alternate Transportation

Dealers should attempt to minimize customer inconvenience by placing the owner in a loaner vehicle if the vehicle must be held overnight.

 

Parts Information

 

 

Parts Return

No parts return required for this campaign.

 

Special Tools

No special tools are required to perform this service procedure.

 

Service Procedure

 

1. Park the vehicle on level ground and set the parking brake.

 

2. Place the gearshift lever in gated Park (P) and remove the ignition key.

 

3. Open the hood.

 

4. Remove the positive battery terminal cover (Figure 1).

 

5. Disconnect the positive battery cable (Figure 1).

 

6. Disconnect the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) ground strap at the negative battery cable (Figure 1).

 

7. Disconnect the negative battery cable (Figure 1).

 

8. Remove the battery thermo cover (Figure 2).

 

9. Remove the battery hold-down retainer (Figure 2).

 

10. Remove the battery from the vehicle.

 

11. Disconnect the powertrain control module (PCM) electrical connectors (Figure 3).

 

12. Disengage wire harness retainers from the battery tray (Figure 3).

 

13. Remove the two bolts and nut attaching the battery tray (Figure 3).

 

14. Partially remove the battery tray forward and disconnect the engine wire harness from the battery tray wire harness clips on that are on the back of the battery tray.

 

15. Remove the battery tray, and set aside.

 

16. Remove the fastener retaining the oxygen sensor connector bracket (Figure 4).

 

17. Place a mark on the gear shift cable notches that are in line with the adjuster (Figure 5).

 

18. Remove the fastener and remove the shift cable adjuster from the transmission shift lever and discard (Figure 5).  

 

19. Install the NEW shift cable adjuster on the transmission shift lever (Figure 6).

 

20. Align the shift cable notches mark and the fastener witness mark on the gear shift cable (Figure 5).

 

21. Place a small drop of thread lock on the adjustment screw threads and tighten the cable adjustment screw to 8 N·m (71 in. lbs.).

 

22. Install the oxygen sensor connector bracket and install the fastener (Figure 4).

 

23. Partially install the battery tray, then reattach the wiring harness to the clips on the back of the tray (Figure 7).

 

24. Reattach all the wiring harness retainers to the battery tray (Figure 3).

 

25. Align the battery tray in place and install the nut and two bolts. Tighten all three fasteners to 25 N·m (18 ft. lbs.) (Figure 3).

 

26. Install the battery into the battery tray (Figure 1).

 

27. Install the battery hold-down retainer (Figure 2).

 

28. Install the battery thermo cover (Figure 2).

 

29. Connect the positive battery cable, then tighten the clamp nut to 7 N·m (62 in. lbs.) (Figure 1).

 

30. Connect the negative battery cable, then tighten the clamp nut to 7 N·m (62 in. lbs.) (Figure 1).

 

31. Install the positive battery terminal cover (Figure 1).

 

32. Connect the PCM ground strap to the negative battery cable (Figure 1).

 

33. Close the hood.

 

34. Set the time, month, day, and year on the instrument cluster.

 

35. Return the vehicle to the customer.

 

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2 Affected Products

Vehicle

 

 

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10 Associated Documents

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V817-9431.pdf 1652.392KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V817-1353.PDF 214.369KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19V817-2257.PDF 211.15KB

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V817-8749.pdf 244.037KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – 11/21/2019 New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – VB4

RCMN-19V817-8085.pdf 100.604KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – 11/19/2019 New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – VB4

RCMN-19V817-2937.pdf 97.677KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-2

RCLQRT-19V817-1101.PDF 211.258KB

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V817-3952.pdf 516.037KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-3

RCLQRT-19V817-3455.PDF 211.356KB

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ISSUED Renotification Notice

RCRN-19V817-9723.pdf 140.934KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V817&docType=RCL

 

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