Consumer Reports has returned the Chrysler 300 to its list of recommended vehicles following a software update that helps to prevent the vehicle from accidentally rolling away.
According to the organization, the new AutoPark software on the 2017 Chrysler 300 has been designed to addresses two potentially dangerous situations. If a driver attempts to exit the vehicle when the car is not in park, the software will recognize what is happening and automatically shift the transmission into park.
The AutoPark software can also detect when the driver attempts to shut off the engine when the vehicle is still in gear. In this situation, the transmission shifts into park and accessory mode is activated for 30 minutes.
Earlier versions of the Chrysler 300 didn’t have this feature, so Consumer Reports deducted enough points to prevent the model from being recommended. Following the update and testing by engineers, the publication is satisfied the system works as intended and has returned the model to its list of recommended vehicles.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has also added the AutoPark feature to the Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 which use a similar rotary shifter as the Chrysler 300. However, these models have reliability issues so their overall score prevents them from being recommended.
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