NHTSA complaint: 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
I HAVE PROVIDED THE DETAILS, DUE TO A NEWS ARTICLE THAT I HAVE JUST READ, THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE 1995 MODEL OF THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE INADVERTENTLY GOING INTO REVERSE. ON THE MORNING OF 12/20/1994 @ 5.30 AM IT WAS VERY COLD, AND I DROVE MY JEEP OUT OF THE GARAGE, PUT IT INTO PARK, AND GOT OUT OF MY JEEP TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOORS, LEAVING MY DRIVERS DOOR OPEN, AND AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE I HEARD THE JEEP'S ENGINE TONE CHANGE, LOOKED UP TO SEE THE JEEP REVERSING BACK, I JUST MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, AND THE JEEP CAME BACK INTO THE GARAGE, REMOVING THE OPEN DRIVERS DOOR. I REACHED IN AS IT WAS MOVING AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I KNEW THE VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM, AND IT WAS LOOKED AT BY BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH TODAY I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER HAS ALL THE COMPLAINT DETAILS. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN IN A CAR PARK WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I PULLED INTO A CAR PARKING BAY, PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILEST WE SAT IN THE CAR AND TALKED, SUDDENLY AFTER ABOUT 30 SECS THE JEEP STARTED TO MOVE BACK. AGAIN I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AGAIN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, WHO REMEMBERED THE SAME PROBLEM EARLIER, BUT STATED THAT JEEP HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL IF THERE WAS AN PROBLEM, SO ONCE AGAIN THEY JUST PAST IT OFF AS MISOPERATION ON MY PART. I WOULD BE EXTREMELY PLEASED TO SUPPORT THE NHTSA WITH ANY FURTHER HEL
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation