NHTSA Complaint #10560607 — 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

(RELATING TO THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT ONLY) MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, (I WAS DRIVING) WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND MY ENTIRE SEAT INCLUDING MYSELF SWUNG BACK. BECAUSE OF THE BACKWARD MOMENTUM, IT CAUSES ME TO ABRUPTLY PRESS FURTHER ON THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL ON THE SIDE TO INSPECT THE SEAT. I FOUND THAT THE TWO FRONT BRACKETS UNDER THE SEAT HAD BROKEN OFF. SINCE I HAD ADJUSTABLE POWER SEAT, I LOWER THE SEAT TO ALIGN THE BROKEN BRACKETS TO WEDGE UNDER THE BAR CAUSING THE SEAT TO STABILIZE OR AT LEAST HOLD IN A SEMI-SOLID POSITION. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ARGUED THAT THIS IS AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT WHERE I HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BRACKETS WOULD BREAK OFF AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ESPECIALLY FOR A JEEP, THIS VEHICLE IS MEANT TO BE DRIVEN ON AND OFF ROAD. AGAIN, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR