NHTSA Complaint #11447467 — 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR

The vehicle’s throttle spikes / surges when the driver completely lifts off the accelerator and presses in the clutch. The issue indicates the throttle sticks after the driver lifts off the accelerator. The issue happens in multiple gears at various RPMs. The issue happens with or without the climate controls off. The issue regularly occurs in 4th gear at 44 mph at ~1900 RPMs. On 1/26/2021 while on a ride along, the customer and Service Tech at Texan DCJR were able to recreate the issue multiple times. On 1/29/2021, the Service Director at Texan DCJR stated to the customer that he and 3 members of his team were able to recreate the issue multiple times. However, the Service Director falsified and backdated the service records to 1/28/2021 claiming that they “couldn’t duplicate concern” and that the “vehicle is driving normal.” After two inspections, the FCA TA claimed that he “couldn’t duplicate concern”, the “vehicle is driving normal”, and that the vehicle was “operating as designed”. Then on 9/17/2021, the FCA TA was able to recreate the issue multiple times, but the FCA TA continued to state that the vehicle was “operating as designed“. The FCA TA contradictory claims the vehicle was “operating as designed” both when he could not recreate the issue and when he could recreate the issue. This throttle surge issue substantially impairs the vehicle’s use as it impacts shifting gears and normal driving operation. The issue occurs sporadically which surprises and distracts the driver creating a serious safety hazard as attention is diverted from the road to the instrument cluster. The issue also creates a serious safety hazard as it induces driver confusion by making them think they accidentally pressed the accelerator while shifting. The claims of “operating as designed” indicates that the Jeep Gladiator Engineering Design Team designed a vehicle to spike the throttle without driver inputs to the controls. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.