NHTSA complaint: 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THIS MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO MY 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED, TO PACK IT UP FOR THE DAY. I OPENED THE BACK LIFT GATE AND BEGAN TO LOAD ITEMS. AS I WAS LOADING STUFF, THE LIFT GATE CAME CRASHING DOWN ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WITH NO RESISTANCE. IT HIT SO HARD THAT FOR A MOMENT, I WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I TRIED TO LIFT IT OFF OF MYSELF, AND IT BOUNCED BACK OFF MY HEAD AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY GOT MYSELF INTO THE HOUSE TO SEEK HELP. THE PAIN WAS UNBEARABLE AND I HAD TINGLING IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE AND NECK, AND BURNING AND THROBBING PAIN IN MY HEAD AND RIGHT EAR. I WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE DR'S OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A CONTUSION, WITH BLEEDING IN THE MUSCLE AND SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO A CONCUSSION. I DID NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT AM SUFFERING ALL SYMPTOMS. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP ICE ON THE AREA AND TAKE TYLENOL FOR THE PAIN. I NEED TO BE KEPT UNDER OBSERVATION FOR THE NEXT 24 HRS BY MY FAMILY. MY FATHER HAS COME TO THE ASSUMPTION THAT WITH IT BEING 8 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THAT THE PISTONS WERE LACKING OR CONTAINED FROZEN FLUID, WHICH CAUSES THEM TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT TO OTHERS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. I AM THANKFUL THAT NO CHILDREN WERE STANDING NEXT TO ME, AS IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY CREATED A FATALITY WITH THE WEIGHT AND SPEED OF THE GATE CRASHING. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT HOOD PISTON REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NEVER EVEN THOUG
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation