RECALL ALERT: Dodge Trucks Recalled After Crash Kills Child

An accident involving the death of a child has prompted FCA US, the new name for Chrysler Group, to recall 66,819 older pickup trucks with manual transmissionsto fix clutch ignition interlock switches.

They say that if a spring breaks, the trucks can creep forward without the clutch being depressed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the death occurred when a child in a parked vehicle turned the ignition switch of one of the pickups that was still in gear. It moved forward without the clutch pedal being engaged and ran over another child, causing a fatal injury.

It has since been discovered that switches in some model-year 2006 and 2007 pickups may be equipped with a spring that's different from the one used in previous switches. The newer spring could be susceptible to breaking, which means the vehicle might not start.

The recall covers some 2006 and 2007 Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider pickups. Chrysler made the Mitsubishi pickup under contract.

Of the affected vehicles, 54,558 vehicles are believed to be in the USA; 4,356 are in Canada; 7,648 are in Mexico and 257 are elsewhere.