NHTSA Complaint #10500402 — 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING ACCELERATION UP AN ENTRANCE RAMP INCLINE FROM 30 MPH TO 50 MPH ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY A VEHICLE MOVED INTO MY PATH AT WHICH TIME, I QUICKLY MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS AND MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY BRAKE PEDAL INPUT, AT THAT MOMENT. I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. A VERY SHORT TIME LATER, THE BRAKES APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THIS CONDITION MULTIPLE TIMES AND BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE CONDITION INITIALLY. I RODE WITH THE TECHNICIAN AND WALKED HIM THROUGH THE STEPS TO RECREATE MY EXPERIENCE. HE CONFIRMED THE CONDITION EXISTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE AND CAN STILL CREATE THE CONDITION IN MY VEHICLE "A BRAKE PEDAL THAT IS HARD TO DEPRESS AND DOES NOT SLOW/STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY." CHRYSLER HAS STATED IT IS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION IN IT'S PENTASTAR 6 CYLINDER DUE TO LOW VACUUM BRAKE BOOST UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND DESCRIBES THE CONDITION AS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE ENGINE, FURTHER EXPLAINING THE "VEHICLE IS WORKING AS INTENDED." WHILE EVERY ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER WAS NICE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY. NOT HAVING RESPONSIVE BRAKES UNDER ALL CONDITIONS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THIS IS NOT A "CHARACTERISTIC" BUT A DESIGN FLAW THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS BEFORE TOO MANY UNITS ARE ON THE ROADS AND EXPERIENCE THE WRONG CONDITIONS AT THE WRONG TIME AND SOMEONE IS NOT ABLE TO SWERVE OR STOP IN TIME. I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ALREADY. THERE IS A "CHRYSLER START CASE" WITH THIS INFORMATION IN IT.