by Unexpected acceleration in the Dodge Charger Daytona
The publication Edmunds reported unexpected acceleration during testing of the electric Dodge Charger Daytona. Similar cases have already been discussed online, prompting the manufacturer Stellantis to issue an official comment. The company claims that this is not a malfunction but a special safety feature that has existed in ICE vehicles for many years.
During the test drive, the car began to accelerate without pressing the accelerator pedal. The driver noted that it resembled the slow acceleration typical of automatic transmission vehicles but without human control. After reaching a speed of approximately 45 mph, the driver was able to stop the car using the brakes and shift it into park mode.
Manufacturer’s response
Stellantis provided an official statement:
In rare cases of accelerator pedal failure, Stellantis has implemented a “drive-by-brake” feature that allows the driver to control speed using the brake pedal. In this case, the feature activated as intended, and the driver was able to safely stop the vehicle.
However, it is worth noting that the system does not warn the driver about the activation of this mode, which could cause panic. Additionally, no documented evidence of such a feature existing in ICE vehicles has been found so far.
This situation has sparked a wave of discussions among experts and car owners. While the feature may be useful in emergency situations, its unexpected activation without warning could create hazardous conditions on the road. Stellantis continues to investigate these cases, and in the future, the system may receive additional indicators to inform drivers.
