NHTSA Complaint #10498325 — 2004 JEEP LIBERTY

PARKED VEHICLE AT GAS PUMP. SET PARKING BRAKE, LEFT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL (ENGINE IDLING). GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT THEN STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 14,000 MILES AND STILL DOESN'T EVEN AFTER HAVING THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES AND SPRINGS REPLACED. I REPLACED THEM BECAUSE THE RIGHT-REAR PARKING BRAKE HAS TAKEN TO STICKING WHILE DRIVING. A COUPLE OF TIMES I'VE COME HOME AND GOTTEN OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO AN ACRID SMELL OF BURNING AND THE EXCESSIVELY HIGH TEMPERATURES COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE GAS-STATION INCIDENT HAPPENED, AND THE ONLY REASON IT STILL DOESN'T HAPPEN IS I NEVER LEAVE IT PARKED OUT OF GEAR ANYMORE. THE PARKING BRAKE IS WORTHLESS AND WOULD NEVER BE OF USE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY WHERE THE PRIMARY BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED IF I HADN'T BEEN RIGHT THERE TO JUMP IN MY VEHICLE TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING. *TR