# 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `302260` · 2001-07-04 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 17
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** JEEP
- **Model:** GRAND CHEROKEE
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
## Narrative
ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 1, 1998, I HAD MY 1998 GRAND CHEROKEE IN PARK WITH THE DOOR OPEN WHILE I WAS GETTING MY MAIL FROM A BANK OF MAILBOXES.  WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE CAR, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SITTING ON LEVEL GROUND.  THE OPEN DOOR HIT THE BANK OF MAILBOXES AND I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR TO STOP IT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY SINCE I NEEDED TO HAVE THE DRIVERS DOOR REPLACED.  THE CAR WAS IN PARK, AND AFTER I GOT IN TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS, IT WAS STILL IN PARK.  I NEVER REPORTED THIS TO JEEP BECAUSE NO ONE BELIEVED ME AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THEN.  THE JEEP WAS LEASED, AND I TURNED IT IN ON JUNE 27, 2001 TO GENE'S CHRYSLER IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA.  HOWEVER, AFTER READING ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER JEEPS IN THE LA TIMES, I WANTED TO FILE MY COMPLAINT ALSO.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*