NHTSA Complaint #11205068 — 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

THIS VEHICLE LACKS ANY KIND OF UTILITY FOR POSITIVE ENGINE SHUTOFF CONFIRMATION, AND/OR A WARNING INDICATOR WHEN THE KEY FOB IS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PARK AND EXIT THIS VEHICLE AND LEAVE IT RUNNING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME FOUR TIMES IN THE 18 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED IT. TWO OF THESE TIMES THE ENGINE WAS LEFT ON WHILE PARKED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY AND EMISSIONS ISSUE. SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE NO KEY REMOVAL IS NECESSARY, IT IS EASY TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE RADIO AND SUBCONSCIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. CAR ENGINES ARE VERY QUIET NOW, AND WHEN EXITING WHERE THERE IS EVEN NOMINAL AMBIENT NOISE, YOU MAY NOT HEAR THE VEHICLE RUNNING. AT MINIMUM, I BELIEVE THE KEY FOB SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR TO KNOW WHEN IT IS MORE THAN SAY 20' AWAY FROM A RUNNING VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD WARN YOU WITH LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. A SECONDARY OPTION WOULD BE TO HAVE A MOBILE APP OR NETWORK CONNECTED SERVICE THAT COULD SEND A TEXT OR EMAIL THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IDLING IN ONE PLACE FOR MORE THAN XX MINUTES.