2002 JEEP LAREDO — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: 04-29-04 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT,PRIOR TO THAT HAD BEEN TO A FLOWER NURSEY WHERE A LOT OF DIRT AND GRAVEL WERE ON GROUND AND THEN TO A SHOPPING CENTER. DRIVING A SLOW SPEED APPROACHING STOP SIGN, REGULAR WEIGHT IN VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE WHICH SEEMED TO GRIP AND THEN STARTED TO SLOW AND THEN LOST FUNCTION ON BRAKES. APPLIED STEADY PRESSURE TO TRY TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET FROM THE INTERESECTION TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE WHICH WAS PRESSED TO FLOOR WHICH SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE RESPONDING BUT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS WHICH CEASED TO WORK DESPITE CONTINOUS PRESSURE. NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER. REMOVED FOOT IMMEDIATELY AND THEN PUSHED DOWN HARD TO ENGAGE ABS. FELT OR HEARD NOTHING. AT THAT POINT, STEERING WAS UNDER CONTROL BUT CAR WAS NOT STOPING. WAS IN STRAIGHTWAY STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS SPEEDING THROUGH. HIT THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER PART OF THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR, TOTALED SUV WITH FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN A SOFT MANNER. FEELS AS THOUGH SENSORS ALONG WITH OTHER SYSTEMS WERE NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. SUFFERED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES. SELT BAGS DID NOT LOCK ALONG WITH BRAKES. AGAIN AIR BAGS WERE SOFT, DRIVER WENT THROUGH AIR BAG STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD AND CHEST. *AK