NHTSA Complaint #10759047 — 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

OCTOBER 13, 2014 MY 2014 GR CHER HAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SHIFTER DESIGN I'VE EVER USED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE! THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT KILL THE ENGINE IF THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THE SHIFTER DOES NOT ALWAYS ENTER PARK WHEN OPERATED WHICH CREATES THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE MAY DRIVE OFF WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES HE HAS STOPPED IT.. COMBINED WITH THE QUIETNESS OF THE MOTOR, AMBIENT NOISE MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING! AFTER PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WITH LANDSCAPERS WORKING IN THE YARD, I THOUGHT I HAD PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND HIT THE IGNITION BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHIFTER KEPT THE CAR ENGAGED IN REVERSE. AND, THE MOTOR DIDN'T TURN OFF! NOT ONLY DID THE ENGINE NOT SHUT OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE BACKWARD AS I EXITED THE DRIVER'S SEAT. FORTUNATELY, I JUMPED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND AVOIDED BEING CRUSHED BETWEEN THE OPEN CAR DOOR AND THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH THE DOOR OPEN CAUSING $4,000 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 8TH GRAND CHEROKEE (SINCE 1983) AND I AM VERY, VERY UNHAPPY WITH JEEP'S DESIGNERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. AND I SHOULD BE MADE WHOLE FOR THE $4,000 BODY WORK!