Issue: Transmission defect

The Park-to-Reverse or False Park Transmission Defect

There have been hundreds of accidents where people suffered debilitating physical injuries when their vehicle suddenly moved into reverse. Auto manufacturers have refused to accept legal responsibility for these injuries. Instead, they regularly blame the driver for the accident and deny their vehicle is defective.

Attorney Robert Nelson Discusses Park-to-Reverse Accident Dangers

“False Park” Lawsuits

In Louisiana in 2008, Lieff Cabraser prosecuted a wrongful death case (Guillot v. DaimlerChrysler) against Chrysler involving a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The jury held Chrysler liable for the death of the infant, Colin Guillot, and returned a $7.2 million verdict (including interest). The jury found that the park to reverse defect in the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s transmission played a substantial factor in Collin Guillot’s death and the severe injuries suffered by Mr. and Mrs. Guillot and their daughter.

One year earlier in California, Lieff Cabraser attorneys obtained a $54 million verdict against Chrysler in a wrongful death case (Mraz v. DaimlerChrysler). The judgment included a $50 million award of punitive damages. The jury found that the evidence showed the vehicle at issue, a 1991 Dodge Dakota, had a defective transmission and that Chrysler acted with malice and with a conscious disregard for the health and safety of others.

Chrysler and Ford Vehicles with the Reverse Defect

We have extensive experience litigating park-to-reverse cases involving the following Chrysler vehicles:

• Dodge Dakota
• Dodge Durango
• Dodge Ram
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Dodge Neon
• Dodge Grand Caravan

In addition, we have represented individuals injured by Ford vehicles with similar park-to-reverse problems to those found in certain Chrysler vehicles.

The above list is a list of vehicles that have been recalled and/or investigated for alleged park to reverse problems and is not meant to imply these are the only vehicles which may have this problem. We are interested in learning of park to reverse and transmission issues in vehicles of any make, model or year.

Terminology

The park to reverse or false park defect is sometimes described in different terms such as unintentional rearward movement, unintended rearward movement, unintentional reverse, unintended reverse, unintentional acceleration, unintended acceleration, powered reverse, failure to hold in park, slipped gear, inadvertent movement, inadvertent rearward movement, jumped into reverse, kicked into reverse, slipped into reverse, change gear, changed gear, back over, backed over, roll backwards, lurched backwards, roll back, rolled back, rearward runaway, accidental shift, shift alone, shift into reverse, shift out of park, sudden shift, switch gears and went into reverse.