NHTSA Complaint #10126986 — 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I HAVE A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MARCH THE ENGINE HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS FAR MORE THAN A NUISANCE. SHOULD IT HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE I'M PASSING ANOTHER CAR, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. I HAVE TALKED TO JEEP ABOUT THIS AND THEY CLAIM THIS CONDITION IS IMPOSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT HIS REGIONAL MANAGER HAS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 2005 JEEP. HOWEVER I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. SHOULD THE DRIVER INADVERTENTLY BUMP THE KEY WITH HIS/HER LEG, YOU CAN STOP THE CAR. I HAVE CONFIRMED THIS CONDITION AND REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. HE MENTIONED THAT THE REGIONAL MANAGER ALSO SUSPECTED THIS WAS THE CASE. I AM A NORMAL SIZED MALE, 165 POUNDS, 5' 11". IT SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE MANNER I AM DESCRIBING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONDITION THAT IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE PURSUED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER ASAP. REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER,