NHTSA Complaint #10245584 — 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE

VEHICLE INCIDENT 09/23/08 APPROX. 2:55-3:00 P.M. ON HIGHWAY 90, MILTON, FL DRIVING A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE, 4 CARS IN TOTAL WERE INVOLVED I WAS STOPPED FAR BACK IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. THE LINE BEGAN TO MOVE UP SLOWLY, I LET MY FOOT UP FROM THE BRAKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE JEEP ACCELERATED FORWARD, I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED TEMPORARILY BUT CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD IN A JERKING HOPPING MOTION. MY VEHICLE IMPACTED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE I WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES; MY PASSENGER WAS ALREADY CHECKING AS WELL. SEEING THAT I WAS (MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL DURING ANY OF THIS) AND THAT THE CAR WAS STILL PUSHING FORWARD I WAS FORCED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER DID NOT CITE ME THOUGH OF COURSE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL RESPONSIBLE. THE OFFICER IN HER REPORT STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED THE IMPACT, TO THE CAR MY JEEP STRUCK, WAS AT 45 MP/H BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE REAR END. THIS OF COURSE WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE I WAS AT A STOPPED POSITION STARTING TO COAST FORWARD; THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE JEEP HITTING THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AS IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS BRAKING. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, NO OVERT CAUSE WAS FOUND. THROUGH PERSONAL RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR INCIDENTS LINKED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM (EVEN WHEN NOT TURNED ON), BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT DISCONNECTED. MY FAMILY IS EXTREMELY TENTATIVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TILL THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TR