Turn knob tranny selector BEWARE

[Birddog]

This was a fluke accident but it could happen to anyone so I thought I'd share the story. A relative bought a new 2014 Durango R/T, which has the turn knob instead of the console gear selection. He left his house early in the morning and realized he forgot something. He turned around and drove home, now running late for work. When he pulled into his driveway he had his foot on the brake as he turned the knob into park. He stopped his Durango on the right side of, but behind, his wife's camaro, opened the door to jump out in a hurry and with his foot still on the brake he jumped out. What he didn't realize was he bumped the knob back into drive with his arm or something. The car started to roll but since it hadn't gained momentum yet he didn't notice until he got near the rear tire of the camaro. Suddenly his Durango was now side swiping the camaro and crushing him between the cars until it finally let him go and he fell to the ground. The Durango went through the garage door before it came to rest by itself. He was able to turn it off and call for help and get some medical attention. His chest got crushed some but he got very lucky and is healing fine.

I have a shifter on the tree of my 2013 2500 so I don't share that risk. I just wanted to pass this story on to you folks that have a new truck with the knob shifter.

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[Esgordon123]

Wow that really sucks. I hope he heals up well. I would guess that the Durango is a goner. If it was mine and it tried to kill me it would be gone.


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[baum]

keep in mind also the durango and the GC ones are on the center console next to the cup holders. ours are on the dash next to the radio.. i have heard of people turning the tranny selector on accident when they thought it was the radio knob. but in that case there are safety measures that it wont let anything happen

 

[wazslow]

keep in mind also the durango and the GC ones are on the center console next to the cup holders. ours are on the dash next to the radio.. i have heard of people turning the tranny selector on accident when they thought it was the radio knob. but in that case there are safety measures that it wont let anything happen

I don't know about the Durango, but the Grand Cherokee doesn't have a knob for gear selection. The knob on the center console is for selecting which 4 wheel drive mode you want. I had a 2014 Grand Cherokee before I bought my 2014 Ram.

This is what the Grand Cherokee's look like.


http://extras.mnginteractive.com/li...erokee_Overland_EcoDiesel_shifter-bud_400.jpg

 

[baum]

Durangos do, i just assumed that the GC did also. my bad on that one.

 

[arod412]

How easy is that knobb when you turn it? Does it turn easy when you change gears or does it actually take some "muscule" to move it. I just wonder if the dial has some kind of resistance compared to the radio knobb with no resistance.

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[B-g-K]

How easy is that knobb when you turn it? Does it turn easy when you change gears or does it actually take some "muscule" to move it. I just wonder if the dial has some kind of resistance compared to the radio knobb with no resistance.

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On the ram there isn't much resistance, a little more than the radio or HVAC knobs though. Moral of the story is don't be a spaz, take your time. Glad to hear he's okay.

 

[Birddog]

Yeah, that exactly the moral of the story. Take your time. I don't have that knob for my gear selector but I do have one for the 2 to 4x4 selector and mine doesn't need much resistance to turn it. I can only imagine they're the same. Maybe it will not be a problem to anyone simply because the trucks have a little extra room than a Durango.

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[Birddog]

Esgordon123: Oh I forgot to mention, the Durango is already fixed and operable. He wasn't going to get rid of it. It's his second Durango R/T in a row and he loves that Hemi as much as we do. Besides, trading in a 2014 in the same year isn't financially sound. Lol

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[vatcher]

I never crashed my ram. Not even so much as a scratch , but the first week I had my 14 ram, ( not use the the knob shifter ) I stopped near a trash can yo throw out a drink bottle, pushed the brake turned the knob, opened the door. As soon as both feet hit the ground I notices, hey the trucks backing up. So I jump back in, easy enough seeing the door wasn't closed and stopped it. Turns out I only turned it too reverse not park. So easy done ! Luckily that was the only incident

 

[Burla]

Rushing is one of the worst diseases humans have and often comes with a steep price. the older I get I don't rush for a damn thing.

 

[Birddog]

Rushing is one of the worst diseases humans have and often comes with a steep price. the older I get I don't rush for a damn thing.

I think that has something to do with we can't move as fast as we used to anymore also... Lol

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[Esgordon123]

I understand not getting rid of it because of the $$$. I would really be extra careful from here on out. I am glad he is better. I hope it doesn't happen to any one else. Could have been a lot worse.


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[The Unabomber]

Glad he is ok and not seriously injured. I can't imagine being squished like that.

I feel there is more to the story than we have been told. Probably is embarrassed about it so we don't have the whole story. I don't blame the poor guy.

With that being said he didn't just brush up against it and have it go into gear. He was in hurry and thought it was out of gear and got out.

Moral of the story being in a rush is never good. This is the cause of most accidents. Always take your time to avoid these types of things.

 

[Gymkata]

I have the knob on my truck and the only problem I have had is accidentally turning it to park instead of reverse. It does take a little getting used to. I pray that he is alright.

 

[Gymkata]

...on the other hand, it is a very simple device to use...so...???

 

[aIIan]

I've forgot to put it in park twice now... luckily the truck is smarter than I am.

I guess I'm so used to slamming the column shifter up into P before grabbing the ignition key, time to form new habits.

 

[Z77Z77Z]

Forgot to throw mine in park once, won't let you pull the key out until you turn it back to run then shift it to park. I'm sure we'll hear more stories like this, and eventually there will be a class action. I drive my wifes aspen (column shift) my truck (knob) and my mustang (manual), so most times when I first get into a car I do a big circle with my arm looking for the right shifter.

 

[aIIan]

Forgot to throw mine in park once, won't let you pull the key out until you turn it back to run then shift it to park. I'm sure we'll hear more stories like this, and eventually there will be a class action. I drive my wifes aspen (column shift) my truck (knob) and my mustang (manual), so most times when I first get into a car I do a big circle with my arm looking for the right shifter.

I hear you there, I drive a stick 12 hours a day and I can't even begin to count how many times I've tried to hit the "clutch" in my automatic personal vehicles

 

[Z77Z77Z]

Lol, I remember one time when I was younger coming up to a light and going for the clutch that wasn't there and catching the brake pedal, lucky there was no one behind me cause they locked up in a hurry!