NHTSA Complaint #723065 — 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE

WHEN SHIFTING FORWARD ONE POSITION TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT THUMB BUTTON PRESSED, SHIFT LEVER WENT FORWARD TO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH INJURIES SUSTAINED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS APRX 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND WAS NOT REPORTED BECAUSE DRIVER THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE HAD THUMB BUTTON PRESSED IN. SHE CHANGED THE WAY SHE WAS SHIFTING TO OVERDRIVE SO THAT THUMB WAS NOT RESTING ON BUTTON AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT DID NOT. VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE AS A RESULT OF CRASH. MAY ALSO BE RELATED TO INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF KEY BEING STUCK IN IGNITION. SOLUTION WAS TO REPEATEDLY PRESS THUMB BUTTON ON SHIFT LEVER UNTIL KEY WOULD FINALLY RELEASE. PLEASE ADVISE OWNER OF ANY FINDINGS. *AK