NHTSA Complaint #10207808 — 2006 JEEP COMMANDER

THREE TIMES I EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 JEEP COMMANDER, 4X4. THE FIRST TIME -- I TURNED THE IGNITION TO START THE JEEP AND IT DIDN'T KICK OVER RIGHT AWAY, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP SIMULTANEOUSLY, THEN RANDOMLY AND AT VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME WENT OUT. THE DASH LIGHTS AND THE RADIO WERE TURNING ON AND OFF. WEIRD, I SHUT IT OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 2 MINUTES. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK (EXCEPT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON). AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AGAIN, FLASHING ON AND OFF AS BEFORE, AND THEN A CLUNK-JERK -- NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, LIGHTS STILL GOING CRAZY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, STOP SAFELY. I TURNED IT OFF, WAITED 5 MINUTES, THEN IT STARTED AND I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT (AIRBAG LIGHT STILL LINGERED FOR A WHILE). TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE (SO I WAS GOING SLOW) THE DASHBOARD STARTED THE SAME FLASHING ROUTINE AS BEFORE. I SHUT THE JEEP OFF IMMEDIATELY, WAITED ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND RE-STARTED. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT LINGERED A FEW MINUTES AS BEFORE. THE THIRD INCIDENT (OCTOBER 29TH), I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE MAIN ROAD ABOUT 40 MHP ON A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SECTION WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING ON/OFF (OH, NO!). AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY I TURNED OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND KEPT DRIVING SLOWLY TO MY GARAGE. I MADE IT THERE WITHOUT LOSING THE STEERING/BRAKES, LIGHTS FLASHING THE WHOLE WAY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM, THEIR ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTS THAT I REMOVE THE OTHER THREE KEYS FROM MY KEYRING BECAUSE THEIR WEIGHT MUST BE CAUSING THE HIGHLY-SENSITIVE IGNITION TUMBLER TO TOGGLE TO ACCESSORY MODE. UUUUUGGGGHHHHHH. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS EXPLANATION. I AM STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR