Feds Widen Jeep Cherokee Investigation
November 12, 2001
The government moved one step closer this week to demanding a full recall of 1.8 million of DaimlerChrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokees when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it was widening an investigation into claims that the SUV shifts from park to reverse on its own. NHTSA says it has received 865 complaints concerning the sudden shift in gears.
359 crashes, 184 injuries, and five deaths are now being blamed on the problem that involves 1993-2002 Grand Cherokees. The probe could not have come at a worse time for the billion-dollar company as the government is taking a tough stance against automobile and tire makers in the wake of the Firestone scandal.
Investigators blame a faulty component of the Jeep's transmission. NHTSA has managed to duplicate the error during extensive testing. DaimlerChrysler says it is investigating consumer complaints but has not found any evidence to explain the sudden gearshifts. The company is in the process of settling four lawsuits stemming from the transmission problem.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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