2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed May 9, 2011 · Acceleration · 151,000 miles · IA

Had cruise control on at 70 MPH in normal driving conditions on the interstate (70 MPH speed limit). Put foot on accelerator to speed up in order to change to left lane and better clear the traffic behind me. Initial accelerator push yielded no response, so I pushed further down on the accelerator pedal. When the pedal reached the floor, acceleration shot up and I took my foot off the accelerator. Cruise control was still engaged and I expected my speed to go back to the set cruise speed of 70 MPH. I noticed then that the acceleration continued to increase and I tried to break once on the break pedal. I got no response. I pushed harder on the break and felt the acceleration continue to increase and then smelled brake heat. I pushed on the cruise button to try to turn cruise off. No response. I felt the accelerator pedal which was flat to the floor and tried tapping it to get it to spring back up. No response. Then I shifted into neutral and saw the engine rev to the redline on the RPM gauge. I took it back into drive and still the acceleration continued as I held the brake harder and harder. Knowing I was not doing anything to fix the problem I called 911 that I was accelerating out of control and I needed their guidance. The 911 dispatcher told me to: (1) put the car into neutral and keep it there, (2) start pulling over as the car slowed, (3) engage the emergency brake, (4) pull the car over to the side of the interstate, (5) turn the ignition key off and brake to a stop. I asked the 911 dispatcher to send police who came and waited with me for a tow truck.

Filed Feb 12, 2010 · Acceleration · HI

I was driving my 2001 jeep grand cherokee yesterday morning and had unintended acceleration!! I bought this vehicle in great condition about 3 weeks ago and had 0 problems with acceleration until this point, and a very sharp point at that! I was traveling uphill and went to pass another vehicle doing approx. 20 miles per hour, I accelerated past the vehicle and all of a sudden the gas pedal went all the way to the floor as if the cruise control came on, but when I tried tapping and then(when that didn't help) I was holding the brakes as far down as I could but would not stop this vehicle that was charging forward with the engine at high revs.. I eventually was able to get the vehicle into neutral which calmed this down. It took the whole length of the street to stop this, and if there were any other vehicles on the road, there would have been a serious-serious accident!!! I am hoping there is something I can do to correct this problem but my mechanic has no idea what could have caused this. I of course came home and googled on my computer to find out if anyone else has had a problem with this, and there are many, many with horror stories of major accidents! I would like to know if anything can be done as I love the vehicle but cannot put peoples lives in danger if this is to happen again.. I have had many cars over the years and have never had anything remotely dangerous as this happen, and I have had no accidents to this point!! With a v8 engine, this vehicle is like a tank charging, and very very very dangerous!! I was very luck, this time!!

Filed Jan 21, 2008 · Acceleration, Electrical · 117,000 miles · PA

Noticed that the head lights would automatically come on while the car was in park and shut off (headlight switch on auto) the radio controls on the steering wheel would work once in awhile the same for the cruise controls plus the horn does not work at all know did work when I bought it in april 06. I noticed when I played with the tilt steering something is would work some wouldn't. I believe that this might affect the airbag from deploying if in a wreck.

Filed Mar 9, 2005 · Acceleration · 53,500 miles · MD · fire

While driving on the highway driver engaged the cruise control at 60 MPH. Vehicle continued to accelerate. Then, driver applied the brakes to disengage the cruise control, and vehicle continued to accelerate. Driver hit the off button on the cruise control and vehicle failed to disengage. Currently, vehicle was up to 80 MPH and continued to accelerate. Driver put the vehicle in neutral and the rpms went up to 6,000. Vehicle continued to accelerate. Driver put vehicle back in drive and applied the brakes and vehicle slowed down to 30 MPH. That was when driver was able to put the vehicle back into neutral and turned vehicle off. When driver got out of the vehicle all 4 brake pads were on fire, and the rotors were glowing orange.

Filed Jul 16, 2004 · Acceleration · IL · crash · 1 injury

I have a 2001 jeep grand cherokee limited. In march of this year, while on the expressway, my cruise control caused my vehicle to accelerate and would not turn off even by hitting the break and pushing the off button numerous times. I was only able to stop the vehicle by putting the gear in nuetral and turning it off. I contacted the dealership who talked my through how to loosen a cable in the engine which apparently caused the cruise/accelerator to stick. I immediately took the vehicle into the dealership and even on my way there, the car would accelerate on it's own, without the cruise control being turned on. The dealership kept my car for the day and when they returned, they stated that they had repaired the problem. Two months later, I was leaving my parking space at work and my vehicle began to accelerate on it's own. I struck the break but the rear of the vehicle began to spin in circles and forced my vehicle to strike three other vehicle. Jeep conducted an investigation and they sent me a letter stating that they could not find a problem with the vehicle. I just wanted to send you this complaint to let you know that their findings were false and poorly researched. I have pictures of the tire marks and there is no way that this accident could have occurred other than by I high acceleration and my foot being on the break.

Filed May 7, 2001 · Acceleration, Transmission · NY

With cruise control on and going up a hill there is hesitation, and then vehicle slams into a lower gear. Slam is so bad that passengers are startled. Took to dealer, and they said they don't know what to do about this problem.*ak consumer was told by dealership that this is normal.