NHTSA complaint: 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — POWER TRAIN
ON 8/3/2015 A EMPLOYEE OF DISCOUNT TIRE OF LAKE WORTH,TX DROVE OUR 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO INTO A CONCRETE POLE. THE EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS IN REVERSE, WHEN IN ACTUALITY THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE GAS HE DROVE FORWARD INTO A CONCRETE POLE. HIS EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WAS DUE TO THE LAG (OR PING) BETWEEN REQUESTING A COMMAND AND SEEING THE LED SCREEN INDICATE THE SELECTION. MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN THIS FIRST HAND, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE TO OVERSHOOT THE INTENDED GEAR, AND TRY AND CORRECT BEFORE THE DISPLAY HAS ACCURATELY INDICATED THE ACTUAL GEAR. ADDITIONALLY THE INDICATION LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER ARE COVERED BY THE USER HAND WHEN OPERATING. THIS FORCES THE OPERATOR TO STARE AT THE INDICATORS IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER, WHICH AS STATED BEFORE HAVE A NOTICEABLE LAG BETWEEN INDICATIONS. IT IS THE SOFTWARE LAG, AND THE FACT THE SHIFTER ALWAYS SPRINGS BACK TO THE SAME POSITIONS THAT HAS CAUSE CONFUSION. FCA CLEARLY KNEW OF THE ISSUES AS THEY STOPPED PRODUCED THE PIVOTING SHIFTERS FROM 2014-2015. STARTING IN 2016 ALL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MODELS HAVE A MECHANICAL SHIFTER THAT MOVED TO DIFFERENT DEDENTS FOR GEAR SELECTIONS. THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MECHANICAL MODEL SUCH AS THE ONES USED IN 2016 AND UP JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation