NHTSA Complaint #11208770 — 2016 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I AM A FIREFIGHTER WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FIRE AND EMS IN CHESTERFIELD VA. I RECENTLY WORKED AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A NEWER JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH A PUSH BUTTON START. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE "P" POSITION. THE "P" BLINKED RED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO POWER DOWN THE VEHICLE, AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED "VEHICLE NOT IN PARK" AND WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN. WE HAD THE DRIVER HOLD THE POWER BUTTON FOR OVER A MINUTE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED RUNNING. I ENDED UP PULLING THE IGNITION SYSTEM RELAY, IN THE UNDER HOOD FUSE / RELAY BOX TO GET THE VEHICLE TO POWER DOWN. WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE, IT CAUSED ADDITIONAL HAZARDS IN AN ACCIDENT SCENE, AS THE VEHICLE HAD A LARGE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING, POSSIBLY OVER OR INTO OTHER SAFETY PERSONAL ON SCENE. *DT VIN NOT AVAILABLE.*JB *DT*JB