NHTSA Complaint #10888227 — 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE

VEHICLE HAD RUN UNATTENDED IN ENCLOSED GARAGE. VEHICLE CONSUMED ALL FUEL IN GAS TANK (ABOUT 14 GALLONS) RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN GARAGE THAT ITEMS IN GARAGE MELTED. PARTS ON THE VEHICLE MELTED. THE BATTERY WAS RUINED FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT, THE FUEL PUMP, INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, MELTED. THE FUEL TANK BECAME DISTORTED. PLASTIC WAS FOUND IN THE VALVE TRAIN AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM THE MELTED FUEL PUMP. INTERIOR WAS DAMAGED AND FLAT SPOTS ON THE TIRES WERE CREATED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. THIS JEEP IS EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS IGNITION AND ENGINE STOP / START FUNCTION THAT SHUTS ENGINE OFF WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN RESTARTS ENGINE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. EITHER THE VEHICLE STARTED ON IT'S OWN, OR VEHICLE WAS NOT SHUTOFF PRIOR TO DRIVER EXITING. JEEP DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY AUDIBLE ALERT TO THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AFTER THE KEY FOB HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE OR FOB IS OUT OF RANGE. IT IS ALSO A CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULES WOULD LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS AND NOT SHUTOFF. GIVEN THAT REMOTE START WILL SHUTOFF AFTER 15 MINUTES AND THE ACC POSITION IS ONLY GOOD FOR 30 MINUTES, HOW CAN JEEP DESIGN A VEHICLE TO IDLE UNATTENDED UNTIL THE FUEL TANK EMPTIED? VEHICLE WAS ALSO OBSERVED TO BE RUNNING IN A PARKING LOT TWO WEEKS LATER. WITNESSES PARKED NEXT TO THE JEEP HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF IT RUNNING WHEN DRIVER LEFT THE VEHICLE.