NHTSA Complaint #10504231 — 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE

MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT THE DRIVEWAY AND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MILES AN HOUR WHEN HER ACCELERATOR DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. SHE MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE THERE ARE NOW BLACK RUBBER CIRCLES ALL OVER FROM HER TRYING TO STOP BY BRAKING. SHE FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT JEEP HAD THEM ON BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS. MY BOYFRIEND WHO OWNS A GARAGE OUT OF STATE CONFIRMED THIS. I COULDN'T WAIT 2 WEEKS FOR WHAT WAS PROBABLY ANOTHER BAD PART, SINCE JEEP SAID THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVER REDESIGNED THIS PART. INSTEAD, I PAID $506.79 FOR AN AFTERMARKET THROTTLE BODY. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A PART IS ON BACKORDER FOR 2 WEEKS, YET NO ONE IS SAYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT? MY DAUGHTER IS 18 AND NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF HER CONTROL. SHE WAS TERRIFIED BY THIS. WE LIVE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA SO IT'S AMAZING THAT SHE DIDN'T HIT SOMEONE. I HAVE KEPT THIS ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY. UPON LOOKING AT IT, I REALIZED THAT YOUR LIFE IS AT THE MERCY OF A SPRING. A SPRING THAT OVER TIME BECOMES WORN OUT AND FAILS. I'M NO ENGINEER, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO MAKE THESE. *TR