NHTSA Complaint #10760984 — 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE BUT WAS FAVORING THE RIGHT SIDE. I BACKED UP APPROX. 6-8 FEET TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR OUT. AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I COULDN'T STOP IT. THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND SHOT FORWARD, OVER THE PARKING BARRIER AND RAMMED INTO THE CEMENT SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF THE DECK. THE IMPACT WAS JARRING AND THE CAR JERKED BACK UPON HITTING THE STRUCTURE. ALTHOUGH THE DISTANCE WAS ONLY ABOUT 6-8 FEET, THE IMPACT DID $3,300 DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE PHOTOS SHOW THAT MY FRONT TIRES LAID DOWN SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT AND UP AND OVER THE PARKING BARRIER AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP IT. A CLEAR INDICATION I WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE FORCE OF THE CAR PULLING AHEAD AGAINST THE BRAKES WAS VERY STRONG AND WAS ONLY STOPPED ONCE I SLAMMED IN THE PARKING GARAGE WALL. AFTER CONTACTING JEEP, I WAS REFERRED TO THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT.I MET WITH A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR AND HE EVALUATED MY VEHICLE AND SENT THE FINDINGS TO JEEP FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. THE INVESTIGATOR DECLINED TO VIEW MY PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE. A FEW WEEKS LATER I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FINDINGS SHOWED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED. I APPEALED BUT WAS ONCE AGAIN DENIED. OTHER OCCURRENCES OF A SIMILAR, BUT LESS DRAMATIC, NATURE OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I REPORTED SEVERAL OF THESE TO THE DEALER. FINALLY IN MAY I WAS TOLD I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OCCURRENCES SINCE. I AM CONVINCED MY CAR HAD/HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT POSES A DANGER TO BOTH ME AND THOSE AROUND ME. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS STORIES ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON 2014 JEEPS. ...UPDATED 03-10-16 *BF *CN