NHTSA Complaint #10717487 — 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I RETURNED MY SINGLE AXEL MOTORCYCLE TRAILER TO THE GRAVEL STORAGE LOT AND BACKED IT INTO IT'S SPACE. WITH THE ENGINE IDLING I PUT IT IN PARK, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCONNECTED THE TRAILER FROM THE VEHICLE. I GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO IDLE IT FORWARD A COUPLE FEET TO ALLOW CLEARANCE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TRAILER HITCH FROM THE RECEIVER. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IMMEDIATELY UPON BEING PUT IN DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO OVER 5,000 RPMS AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I TRIED TO SHIFT BACK INTO PARK BUT HIT REVERSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARDS. I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ALL THIS OCCURRED WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THE INCIDENT LASTED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR SECONDS. THE REAR TIRES SPUN IN THE GRAVEL CREATING 3 INCH DEEP DIVOTS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 5.7L ENGINE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE.