| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the defective Range Rover gear selector has happened again within the same organization. The article mentions that Toyota had a billion-dollar settlement over 'unintended acceleration' issues in the past [Article 108481]. This indicates that Jaguar Land Rover is facing a similar situation with potential defects in their vehicles, specifically related to the gear selector, which has led to accidents and legal actions.
(b) The software failure incident related to unintended rollaways involving a dial shifter has also happened at other organizations. The article mentions Fiat Chrysler being investigated by the NHTSA after reports of crashes and injuries related to its Dodge and Ram models with a rotary shift knob [Article 108481]. This indicates that similar incidents of unintended rollaways have occurred with different car manufacturers, not just Jaguar Land Rover. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the case of the Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, particularly the Range Rover, due to the defective gear selector design. The rotating dial gear selector fitted to the vehicles, including the Range Rover, was reported to be confusing for drivers to determine if the car was in park, leading to unintended rollaways and accidents [108481].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by instances where drivers, such as Gina Warsavsky, experienced accidents due to mistakenly believing they had left the car in park when it started moving unexpectedly. This indicates that the operation or misuse of the gear selector system contributed to the accidents [108481]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the defective Range Rover gear selector can be categorized as within_system. The incident was attributed to the design of the rotating dial gear selector fitted to the Range Rover and other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, which made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park. The lawsuit filed by Michael Farhat highlighted that the design of the gear selector contributed to the confusion among drivers, leading to unintended rollaway incidents [108481]. Additionally, the article mentions that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated unintended rollaways involving the dial shifter in Jaguar Land Rover cars, ultimately attributing the issue to "operator error" rather than mechanical or electronic faults [108481]. These factors point to the failure originating from within the system, specifically related to the design and functionality of the gear selector. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The incident involving the defective Range Rover gear selector that led to the death of Shadi Farhat was primarily attributed to the design of the rotating dial gear selector, which made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park. This design flaw introduced a contributing factor without direct human participation, leading to confusion and unintended rollaways [108481].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- In the case of the Range Rover gear selector issue, while the design flaw was a non-human factor, there were instances where drivers, such as Shadi Farhat and Gina Warsavsky, experienced accidents due to mistakenly believing they had left the car in park when it was not. This highlights the role of human actions in contributing to the incidents, as drivers were unable to accurately determine the gear position, leading to unintended consequences [108481]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The incident involving the defective Range Rover gear selector is primarily attributed to a design flaw in the hardware component, specifically the rotating dial gear selector fitted to the Range Rover and other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles [108481].
- The lawsuit filed by Michael Farhat claims that the design of the rotating dial gear selector made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park, leading to confusion and unintended rollaway incidents [108481].
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated unintended rollaways involving a dial shifter in Jaguar Land Rover cars but did not identify any mechanical or electronic faults, instead attributing the issue to 'operator error' [108481].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident in this case is not directly attributed to software issues but rather to a hardware design flaw in the rotating dial gear selector [108481].
- There is no mention in the articles of any software-related contributing factors that originated in the software itself leading to the failure incident. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the defective Range Rover gear selector can be categorized as non-malicious. The incident involved a design flaw in the rotating dial gear selector fitted to the Range Rover and other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, which caused confusion for drivers and led to unintended rollaways. The lawsuit filed by Michael Farhat, whose wife died in an accident related to the gear selector, highlighted that the design of the gear selector made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park, ultimately resulting in accidents [108481]. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated unintended rollaways involving the dial shifter in Jaguar Land Rover cars and attributed the incidents to "operator error" rather than mechanical or electronic faults [108481]. This indicates that the software failure was not due to malicious intent but rather a design flaw that led to unintended consequences. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
The intent of the software failure incident in the reported articles is related to poor_decisions. The failure was due to contributing factors introduced by poor decisions made in the design of the rotating dial gear selector in Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, particularly the Range Rover model. The design of the gear selector, which included a dial that 'pops out' of the dashboard console and rotates to select gears, made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park, leading to confusion and unintended rollaway incidents [108481]. The lawsuit against Jaguar Land Rover highlighted that the company was aware of hundreds of potential rollaway complaints related to the dial shifter, indicating a design flaw that contributed to the incidents. Additionally, the article mentions that after a similar incident involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a rotating gear dial, many carmakers added new safety features to prevent such accidents, but Land Rover only implemented the feature in hybrid Range Rovers in 2018 [108481]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence:
- The incident involving the defective Range Rover gear selector, which led to the death of Shadi Farhat, was attributed to a design flaw in the rotating dial gear selector fitted to the Range Rover and other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles [108481].
- The lawsuit filed by Michael Farhat highlighted that the design of the rotating dial gear selector made it hard for drivers to determine if the car was in park, leading to confusion and potential accidents [108481].
- Company documents cited in the lawsuit showed that Jaguar Land Rover was aware of hundreds of potential rollaway complaints related to the dial shifter, indicating a lack of attention to addressing the issue despite customer complaints [108481].
(b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated unintended rollaways involving the dial shifter in Jaguar Land Rover cars for nearly four years but failed to identify any mechanical or electronic faults, attributing the incidents to 'operator error' [108481].
- In court filings, Land Rover denied fault and attributed the accidents to the drivers, suggesting that the incidents were not intentional but rather a result of driver error or confusion [108481]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
The software failure incident related to the defective Range Rover gear selector can be considered as a permanent failure. This is because the issue with the rotating dial gear selector causing confusion for drivers and leading to unintended rollaways has been ongoing and persistent, with multiple complaints and incidents reported over time [108481]. The incident is not a one-time occurrence but rather a recurring problem that has led to serious accidents and legal actions against Jaguar Land Rover. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to the Range Rover gear selector can be categorized as a crash. The incident involved the system losing its state and not performing its intended function, which led to fatal consequences. The rotating dial gear selector in the Range Rover caused confusion for drivers, making it hard to determine if the car was in park, ultimately resulting in unintended rollaways and accidents [108481].
(b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission. The system omitted to perform its intended function of clearly indicating the gear position to the driver. This omission led to multiple complaints from users, including the inability to tell when the vehicle was in park, reverse, or drive, which ultimately resulted in accidents and injuries [108481].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to timing issues where the system performs its intended functions but at the wrong time.
(d) value: The software failure incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not related to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is the confusion and lack of clarity caused by the design of the rotating dial gear selector. The system's design flaw led to drivers being unsure of the gear position, which resulted in unintended rollaways and accidents, ultimately causing harm and fatalities [108481]. |