2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Speed Control & Cruise Problems

WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, THE IDLE SUDDENLY STARTED RACING AT WELL OVER 1000 RPM. EVEN MAX PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE TO PREVENT RUNNING OVER A PEDESTRIAN. THE IDLE RETURNED TO NORMAL SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE WAS NOT IN ANY WAY INVOLVED. A MORE LIMITED RACING OCCURRED WHEN I FIRST BEGAN THE TRIP WHILE I WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SAFELY FOR OVER 54 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE TO COMPARE WITH THIS ONE. IT WAS TRULY A WHILE KNUCKLE RIDE!

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.

A CAR WASH ATTENDANT PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE CUSTOMER'S 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TO DRY IT DOWN AFTER IT ROLLED OFF OUR INSURED'S CAR WASH TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. HE PLACED HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STARTED UP THE JEEP. HE PUT THE JEEP INTO DRIVE. THE ENGINE REVVED UP REALLY HIGH AND TOOK OFF. THE JEEP LURCHED AHEAD STRIKING THE CLOSED OVERHEAD CAR WASH DOOR. PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND THE CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE RESULTED. THE CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. EMPLOYEE IS CERTAIN HE DID NOT PLACE HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. REQUESTING ACTION BE TAKEN TO AVOID BODILY HARM AND MORE PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. UPDATED 01/17/12 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER INTO A ROW OF BUSHES TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FARTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A STICKING ACCELERATOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,346 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THERE WAS SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION UP TO 80 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PROCEED AT 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO 60 MPH WHILE THE RPMS CONTINUED TO EXCEED OVER 700. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO INSPECT THE FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WILL SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS EXPERIENCED PROLONGED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM AT FIRST WAS SUBTLE, ACCELERATING SLOWLY BUT NOTICEABLY AT ANY SPEED OVER 35 MPH. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MECHANICS REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE REPAIR, THE CAR BEGAN UNWARRANTED ACCELERATION AT FULL THROTTLE. ENGINE RED LINED WHEN PUT INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. GENUINE JEEP PART REPLACED THE AFTERMARKET THROTTLE BODY. UNWARRANTED ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTINUED...ACCELERATOR WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A "STICKING PROBLEM" AND WAS REPAIRED AND/OR CLEANED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS...THIS TIME, AGAIN, THE THROTTLE BODY IS APPARENTLY THE TARGET OF BLAME. IN THIS SITUATION MY BRAKES/EMERGENCY BRAKE AND NOT SUFFICIENT TO HOLD BACK THE JEEP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND VERY SCARY SITUATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. TOTAL REPAIR COSTS TO DATE: APPROX. $500.00. *TR

WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK, CAUSING FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE INSUFFICIENT TO CONTROL THE SPEEDING VEHICLE. THE OVER-REVVING OF THE ENGINE RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGE (MAIN BEARING/ROD) UNTIL IT COULD BE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING THE ENGINE ON. THIS WAS A SERIOUSLY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION FOR TWO PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED ONLY BECAUSE OF QUICK THINKING. AS A RESULT, REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE TOTAL OVER $6000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING MOMENTS LATER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE THE RPMS RESET TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,021. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A PIECE OF RUBBER FROM THE AIR CLEANER WAS FOUND IN THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. UPDATED 08/18/2014 *JS

I WAS GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND AS I ACCELERATED THE GAS TO GET ON AND CHANGE LANES, THE JEEP BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. THE BRAKES WERE HARD AND DID NOT WORK. THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND I COULD HEAR IT REVVING. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AGAIN AND TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ALSO DID NOT WORK. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT CAME TO A STOP. *TR

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.

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.

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. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEED KEPT INCREASING WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. SHE TRIED TO MANUALLY SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE SWITCH WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE THROTTLE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING. OWNER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, AND HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK

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. *TC

VEHICLE ACCELERATED UPON PARKING NEAR A STOP LIGHT WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE PEDAL. CAR JUMPED OVER ABOUT TWO FEET. FORTUNATELY NO BODY WAS HURT. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. *AK

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.*AK

2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES CONTINUOUSLY AND CYLINDERS CONTINUE TO MISFIRE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE GIVEN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION RESPONSE. IF VEHICLE IS PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF THEN ENGINE TURNED ON AGAIN, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS LIT AND VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY.VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR SAME ISSUE TWICE IN ONE MONTH. VEHICLE HAS 9,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.*AK