NHTSA Complaint #10749524 — 2008 JEEP COMPASS

I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A MUFFLED HUMMING NOISE, LOCATED IT UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS COMING FROM THE T.I.P.M. THEN MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, A/C STOPPED COOLING, WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, AND THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WORKED. I TRIED TO LEAVE QUICKLY TO GO HOME, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT IS ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED ALSO. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE FUSE BOX/ TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULATOR IS WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. IT IS THE BRAIN OF THE CAR. I READ THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF THIS VEHICLE MAKERS MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT WERE DRIVING WHEN THERE CONTROLS AND LIGHTS AND SIGNALS GO OUT. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS THAT THE PART WAS/IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS COULD GET NOT ONLY THE OWNERS AND FAMILIES HURT, BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. IF YOUR CAR DEVELOPS BRAIN DAMAGE WHILE IN OPERATION. APPARENTLY THE COMPANY IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS. IT CONTROLS ALL AREAS OF FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE AND YOU CANT PROPERLY OR SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE WITHOUT IT.