NHTSA complaint: 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE EXITING A CAR WASH.THE TRANSMISSIOM WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK PEDAL.I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR LEAPED AHEAD AT FULL THROTTLE ALL 4 WHEELS PEELING RUBBER. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO LOW HAD NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE.WE WERE WITHIN 50 FEET OF A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY AND DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM A GAS STATION. IN ORDER TO NOT GO ONTO OR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY I CUT THE WHEELS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT GOING THROUGH AYARD, JUST MISSING A TREE AND TELEPHONE POLL. THE CAR IS NOW SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT NEXT TO THE CAR WASH CAUSING BOTH WHEELS AND TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BE SEVERLY DAMAGED AND THE CAR TO DO A 180 DEGREE SLIDE. THIS ALL TRANSPIRED IN ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS AND AT THIS POINT I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR CAME TO A HALT. I REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER, THROUGH MY DEALER. MY DEALER WAS VERY HELPFUL AND FELT THAT THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE HIGHWAY.CHRYSLER FELT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM BETWEEN MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MYSELF. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN EVER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AGAIN AND I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE IN THE WAY OF THIS VEHICLE IF THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation