Jeep Grand Cherokee E-Shifter, Which Might Have Killed 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin, Underscores Need For Intuitive Car Electronics

The investigation into Sunday's death of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin, 27, in a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolling accident continues. But signs point to a problem that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has had for years with its electronic automatic gear shifters -- namely that some of its cars have shifters that can leave drivers believing they've been put safely into park. Instead, the cars can roll away, causing accidents, injuries and even death. And while the problem vexing more than 800,000 recent Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs, Dodge Charger muscle cars and Chrysler 300 luxury sedans isn't widespread across the industry, the increasing use of electronics for crucial vehicle functions is posing new challenges for automakers, and new risks for drivers. "There's this rush to electrify every aspect of a vehicle," said Byron Bloch, an auto safety expert with 40 years of experience inspecting vehicles and testifying on accidents.