The model of Jeep which fatally crushed the Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was under recall over concerns that a poorly-designed gear stick was leading drivers to accidentally leave its engine running.

The 27-year-old rising star was pinned by his own 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee after he stepped out of the car and it rolled downhill onto him at his Los Angeles home.

Yelchin, who was best known for playing Chekov in the new Star Trek films, was found dead by friends after he failed to arrive for a rehearsal.

It has since emerged that the car model was under a global recall after drivers complained that its gear stick was poorly designed, leading to confusion over whether they had put it into parking mode.

Investigators are looking into the position of Yelchin's gear shift at the time of the accident, police have said. It is not clear whether he had been made aware of the recall.

The car's manufacturer Fiat Chrysler had issued a global recall of the vehicles in April at the urging of Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recalled cars have an unusual electronic gear shifter which requires drivers to push forward three times to switch from driving to parking mode. It sounds a chime if the door is opened while the engine is still running - but will not automatically shut down the ignition.

Fiat Chrysler had reports of 212 crashes, 41 injuries and 308 property damage claims potentially caused by the shifters, according to official data it filed to the US government in April.

Fiat Chrysler has said it is carrying out an investigation but it was premature to speculate on the cause of the crash.

It offered sympathies to Yelchin's friends and family.