In word that must have long-time Audi executives reaching for their Maalox by association, Connecticut officials are urging federal regulators to investigate allegations of 'unintended acceleration' in late-model Jeep Grand Cherokees. The call comes after a 52-year-old man was run over and killed in a car wash in the state. In fact, the hubbub seems to be that something in that particular environment appears to make these episodes more likely – Connecticut bigwigs have logged a number of complaints about the vehicles suddenly picking up speed when drivers move the automatic transmission from 'neutral' to 'drive' while in car washes.
Car buffs may recall Audi's bout with 'unintended acceleration' way back in 1986, when news program 60 Minutes demonized the company's 5000 model sedan. The company's reputation and sales tanked, taking more than fifteen years to rebound. In that case, the syndrome was later judged to be the result of operator pedal misapplication.
If we had to put money on it, we'd be just as quick to cite wet shoes and slippery pedals.
[Source: CNNMoney.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dr. Woo @ Jun 15th 2006 7:36AM
Let's just hope Jeep handles it better than Audi did...
I love Audi, but their arrogance and determined attitude that they did no wrong (and they hadn't) alienated their customers and sent off the wrong signal.
Joe @ Jun 15th 2006 7:47AM
I had a 2006 Grand Cherokee to use for six months and about 18K it only suffered from 'Unintended deceleration.' When you passed a fuel station in would slow and force you to pull in.
That 5.7L is always thristy.
doug @ Jun 15th 2006 8:32AM
Don't automatic cars creep forward when in gear, even if the driver's foot isn't on the gas? If you go from nuetral to drive and don't have your foot on the brake, won't the car go forward? I drive a stick, but when I drove my sister's Explorer last week, when I put it in gear, I had my foot on the brake, but when I released the brake the car started to move before I hit the gas.
I seriously doubt there is some special circumstance in a carwash that causes a Jeep to lunge forward uncontrollably.
GhostDoggy @ Jun 15th 2006 8:58AM
Excuse me, but changing from N to D usually is during a timeframe in which the driver is suppose to have their foot on the brake pedal. Maybe its just operator error?
Paul @ Jun 15th 2006 9:00AM
if you shift from neutral to drive and are not securely on the brake it will jump forward, and not to be sterotypical, but i will be, if you are a scocer mom not used to a 5.7, that jump will be more than you were used to in your mini-van with a 3 liter
CJ @ Jun 15th 2006 9:01AM
The issue is that the cars are put in neutral in the car wash, shut off, restaretd in neutral and then put in gear.....not certain why that would be a problem, but seems to be. In the one that happened yesterday in CT the car ran through a building and the rear wheels were still spinning after the driver got out.
sbcncsu @ Jun 15th 2006 9:05AM
I own a 2005 Grand Cherokee and have not experienced "Unintended Acceleration”. I have noticed that the brake pedal and accelerator are very close together and when I wear my large work shoes or boots, I sometimes will press both pedals at the same time when applying the brake.
This is one drawback to installing a large drivetrain into a relatively small package. The transmission tunnel is large and the driver’s feet are shifted outboard due to the bulging tunnel. This forces the pedals close together. In my case, I have the adjustable pedals, a nice feature when sharing a vehicle with a person of different frame size, however that adjustment can further complicate the issue, especially when the pedals are raised higher than the driver is used to. The application of the pedals at the higher adjustment require less movement on the part of the driver for the same amount of input to the vehicle so you accelerate at a higher pedal position.
I second the comment on the “unintended deceleration” at gas stations. I have 16K on mine with the 5.7 and the fuel mileage has been much less than advertised. Still, I love where the Jeep Grand Cherokee has gone. It is more refined, handles offroad well and suits my lifestyle and needs for a vehicle that hauls people, stuff and tows well.
Karl @ Jun 15th 2006 9:10AM
Yet another reason not to buy an automatic, regardless of brand.
ML @ Jun 15th 2006 9:33AM
The harder I push the brake, the faster I go. Why??
LOL
jeff stewart @ Apr 17th 2008 9:01PM
I had an employee almost killed be a 2007 Jepp Grand Cherokee 5.7 liter in septemer 2007. All vehicles are put in neutral then turned off so that the rollers may push the vehicle through the wash. The vehicles are started and then put in drive from the neutral posistion. We have washed thousands of Jeeps with no problems but it anly takes once to kill a man woman or child. I know first hand this is a real and deadly problem. The federal goverment is investigating the incident at our wash in cin. Oh. If you car to search this problem with Jeep Grand Cherokees on Consumer affairs you will find out waht I already know. This is a real problem and not a joke. If slippery wet feet were to blame hondas would be killing people, fords wpold be killing people ect. There are numerous reports mounting on this verry real problem and the Jepp Grand Cherokee is the culprit over and over again. There is a obvious pattern developing. The fact that you can google the words Jeep grand Cherokee unitended acceleration and get numerous and plentifull hits should key you into this, I know I don't spell well but as the saying goes it doesn't take a rocket scientist. By the way these things take off like they are at a freking drag stip when this hapens, thers nothing subtle about it...or funny.
amp @ Jun 15th 2006 9:51AM
Any idea of what model years they're looking in to? I haven't driven one of the new GC's, but I have driven several of the previous generation. One thing I noticed about them is that the pedals are close, offset slightly to the left, making it easier to hit the accelerator when you mean to hit the brake. My guess is operator error, but shouldn't the BTSI preven you from shifting if your foot isn't on the brake? Maybe there's a BTSI malfunction, or the operator has his/her foot on both the brake and accelerator when shifting. That's probably the most likely situation.
Has anyone ever heard of an unintended acceleration case involving a stir-your-own trans? Didn't think so.
mickster @ Jun 15th 2006 9:52AM
I can't tell you how many times I have said to my wife-honey-your foot is on the accelerator while we are in park. I can only imagine how many people shift from neutral and rest their foot right on the accelerator.
I beleive this is operator error since Automatics do start right up coming off of neutral-and no-you do not need your foot on the brakes from Neutral to Drive in any car.
With 4 wheel drive, a ton of torque, those Jeeps will pull right off-they won't do 0-60 fast, but you can bet 0-20 is pretty quick.
Richard Warren @ Jun 15th 2006 10:15AM
Unintended Acceleration: Unintended license given with no driver instruction.
When I worked in the retail channel had a customer call and say "I had unintended acceleration and hit the washing machine in my garage" When asked where the washing machine was she said "in front of the car" When asked where the garage door was "Behind me"
Do the drill, P-R-N-D = R comes before D
"Momma always said, Stupid is, as Stupid does" Forrest Gump
John @ Jun 15th 2006 10:32AM
As convenient as an automatic is, one still needs to learn to drive it. The difference is the learning curve is not as steep as a manual transmission.
I get those lurches once in a while shifting to drive.
Whenever you shift an automatic, your foot is always on the brake!
The outgoing Lexus ES had this accusation too. I don't believe Toyota had to do anything about it besides shake their heads at their cucstomers.
ODB @ Jun 15th 2006 10:54AM
The problem is that it's a jeep.
gwballin @ Jun 15th 2006 11:16AM
"My guess is operator error, but shouldn't the BTSI preven you from shifting if your foot isn't on the brake?"
I am not sure about the BTSI in the GC, but in every automatic car I've ever driven I could not shift out of 'park' without applying the brake. I have never been in an automatic that required you to use the brake to shift between 'drive' and 'neutral'.
Keith @ Jun 15th 2006 11:29AM
I know a girl who wrecked her new grand cherokee a few years back, she said it kept accelerating and she panicked. I didn't really believe her.
Jim @ Jun 15th 2006 12:11PM
"Pedal misapplication" being the NHTSAs PC term for driver error, of course.
Audi handled it very badly--they really should have done a better job at the time of making sure that everyone knew it was driver error and not the fault of the cars.
tsand @ Jun 15th 2006 12:32PM
This has been going on forever (even with the XJ). I agree it is due to driver error, and the fact that N to D doesn't require a foot on the brake like P to D does. Also since the tunnel is so big to get things up and out of the way for offroad the pedals might be out of position for first-time Jeep drivers.
If there is an investigation, it will be a total waste of federal tax dollars.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19970429/press002082.html
Nick @ Jun 15th 2006 12:57PM
The last statement in the article says it best:
"When the brakes are applied, the vehicle stops; the brakes always win," said Palese. "Even if the accelerator is nailed to the floor, a driver can stop the vehicle by applying the brakes."