NHTSA Complaint #10622332 — 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNANTICIPATED ENGINE STALL WHEN DECELERATING FROM HIGHWAY SPEED IN ORDER TO MAKE A TURN (BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT). IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES, AS I WAS IN THE TURN (OR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE), THE ENGINE STALLED, LEAVING ME WITHOUT POWER-ASSISTED STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AS THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL FORCE NEEDED TO COMPLETE A TURN IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL. IN EACH INSTANCE, AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT BY PLACING THE SHIFT SELECTOR IN "NEUTRAL," APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUSHING THE ENGINE START BUTTON. WHILE I HAVE SUFFICIENT ARM STRENGTH TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES, IT IS, AT A MINIMUM, A SURPRISING AND UNEXPECTED EVENT TO HAVE STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. A SMALLER PERSON COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER, WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED, BUT THAT MAY ALSO BE A MATTER OF CONCERN. *TR