NHTSA Complaint #724795 — 1998 JAGUAR XJ8

I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME DEFECTS WHICH STILL REMAIN. THE DRIVERS ELECTRIC SEAT OCCASIONALLY MOVES BOTH FORWARD AND BACK WHILE DRIVING MOVING YOU EITHER AWAY FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL OR INTO THE DASH. THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IS TIED INTO THE SAME SYSTEM SOMETIMES REFUSES TO MOVE OUT OF ITS RETRACTED POSITION AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN AT ALL UNLESS THE DRIVER FIRST OPENS THEIR OWN DOOR OR HITS A CENTRAL RELEASE BUTTON PRIOR TO EITHER REAR PASSENGER TOUCHING THEIR INTERIOR HANDLES. UP UNTIL NOW THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN TRYING TO REPAIR THIS SITUATION BUT HAS NOW CHANGED THEIR POSITION TO BEING "IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT WAY". THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT END COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER IS EITHER RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS OR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. IN EITHER CASE THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN A POTENTIALLY BURNING VEHICLE. IT ALSO CREATES A VERY INCONVENIENT SITUATION EVERY TIME A REAR PASSENGER TRIES TO GET OUT BEFORE THE DRIVER. IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE CAR MUST BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESET THE SYSTEM BEFORE THE REAR DOORS CAN BE OPENED EVEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK