2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Acceleration · 42,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 jeep grand cherokee. While driving approximately 1 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact shifted into the park position in order to stop the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 42,000.

Filed Jan 27, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · 114,000 miles · NY

While stopped at a traffic light my jeep started to accelerate and, even with the brake pedal fully depressed, surged forward. This has happened numerous times in the past week both at traffic lights and at stop signs, always while stopped. The rpms have increased to between 1,500 and 4,500. The jeep dealer attempted to fix it on tuesday, however the problem re-occurred on my way home and again with a mechanic in the vehicle when I brought it back. To date, the car is still at the dealer and has not been fixed.

Filed Nov 15, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 46,000 miles · UT · crash

Sudden unintended acceleration and loss of braking while driving in parking lots. When driving at slow speed in parking lot, turned right to pull into parking space. Gave accelerator a slight push to give cherokee enough gas to move into uphill parking stall. Quickly moved foot from accelerator to brake pedal, when car motor revved, speed increased and front end of car hit concrete retaining wall. Braking unable to stop or slow the car before impact. Second incident on 11/12/2011 with approximately 78,000 miles driven when driving at slow speed through parking lot, turning right to drive down parking lane, placed foot on brake pedal to slow even more to move further to right side of lane to avoid oncoming car. With side of foot, felt accelerator pedal drop away causing motor to rev, speed to increase. Left front bumper hit left fender of oncoming car and right front fender hit back bumper of parked truck. Despite pressing on brake as hard as possible, car failed to slow and stopped only on impact with truck. Almost as if brake was overridden by acceleration. Two incidents happened in similar circumstances: cold precipitating weather; car heater on; driving at slow speed in parking lot; pavement wet; making right hand turn; with braking, car begins accelerating unexpectedly; acceleration overrides brake; brake fails to slow or stop car; car stops only on impact.

Filed Mar 22, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 112,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 jeep grand cherokee. The contact was driving approximately 70 MPH when the vehicle lunged forward and stalled. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The following day the vehicle operated normally; however, the identical failures occurred on three separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician stated that the failure was related to the front control module. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time. The failure mileage was 112,000. Updated 6/21/10 *cn the consumer stated the vehicle would shut off with no warning and would not restart. It was determined the crank sensor became extremely hot which caused the vehicle to shut down. The fan relay also failed which caused the vehicle to overheat and the internal transmission sensors failed. Updated 07/01/10.

Filed Jun 22, 2009 · Acceleration, Airbags · 72,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 jeep grand cherokee. While driving approximately 5 MPH on a dirt covered road, the engine began to rev excessively followed by unintended acceleration. The vehicle failed to slow down and struck a metal pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver was transported to the hospital and sustained moderate injuries to the neck and back. The police were called to the scene and filed a report. The vehicle was completely destroyed and was towed to an authorized dealer. The insurance company was notified and is investigating the failure. The cause of the failure has not been determined. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 72,000.

Filed Dec 6, 2007 · Acceleration, Electrical · 53,800 miles · NE

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 jeep grand cherokee. While driving with the cruise control set at 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 85 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal, cancelled the speed control, and disconnected the cruise control button. The vehicle did not decelerate and the contact pulled off the road and turned off the vehicle. When the vehicle was restarted, all of the instrument panel lights illuminated. He turned off and restarted the vehicle again and it operated normally. He was able to drive home. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice for the same failure. The throttle position sensor and crank vacuum hose were replaced after the first failure. The vehicle is currently back at the dealer for a diagnosis. The VIN, engine size, fuel system, number of cylinders were unknown. The current mileage was 55,000 and failure mileage was 53,800.

Filed Sep 13, 2007 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · ME · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 jeep grand cherokee. While shifting out of neutral, the vehicle surged forward. The contact depressed the brake pedal with both feet, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle crashed into a pole, flipped over three times, and landed on a business sign. Smoke began to rise from the engine and the fire department used the jaws of life to rescue the contact from the vehicle. She sustained injuries to her back and left leg. A police report was filed and the investigation concluded that the failure was due to the accelerator pedal becoming stuck. The speed and engine size were unknown. The VIN was verified and appears to be valid. The vehicle was destroyed, therefore no current mileage was available. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Jul 14, 2006 · Acceleration · 85,000 miles · OK

I was sitting in my jeep with it running and my foot on the brake and talking to my daughter in her pickup and my niece was getting into the passenger side when all of a sudden it start to accelerate. I pushed harder on the brake and slammed it into park .it went forward almost running over my niece. It lunged forward with nothing stopping it, and the right back tire left skid marks. Something must be done before some one is killed. I am afraid to drive it,I t has a mind of its own and did what it wanted and I could not stop it.

Filed Jul 14, 2006 · Fuel system · 83,000 miles · OK

Dt: the contact stated that the vehicle consistently stalled and leaked gas. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they determined the gas leak was caused by the fuel pump. The fuel pump was replaced however gas continued to leak. On 07/13/06 the vehicle was taken to the independent repair shop for the stalling problems and the gas leak. The mechanic determined there was a blown fuse which causing the vehicle to stall. The the fuse was replaced and tighten. While stopped in the dealer parking lot with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle lunged forward accelerating and almost hitting a pedestrian. The mechanic test drove the vehicle and was unable to make the involuntariy acceleration reappear. The vehicle continues to stall and leak gas.

Filed Mar 2, 2005 · Acceleration · 23,500 miles · KY · crash

Vehicle experienced unexpected acceleration problem. Owner was pulling out of the garage and vehicle lunged forward, crashing into the parked vehicle in the garage, and forcing it through the wall of the garage. *ak the consumer stated that the right back tire dug into the gravel up to the gravel.

Filed Mar 12, 2004 · Acceleration · 32,390 miles · NJ

Car lunged forward while driving less than 5 MPH in parking lot. Engine raced at full speed with no foot on the acceleration pedal. Both feet on the brake could not stop car. Put the transmission in neutral and turned ignition off to stop car.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · 28,300 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

When put into drive vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a wall 20-25 feet away. Brake pedal was depressed and accelerator was never touched during incident.