The focus of rollovers first made national news in 1980 when CBS's 60 Minutes aired a report on the Jeep CJ, the model for several early SUVs. The report showed copy of an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety test in which the vehicle rolled over while performing a "J" turn (a sweeping right turn preceded by a straight-on path) and during abrupt evasive maneuvers, such as an immediate turn to avoid an object in its path. Regardless of the Jeep rollover risk, Americans flocked to the Jeep. Other automakers, their sales declining, took notice.
As Jeep continued to play a major role in the SUV market, the Jeep rollover accidents continued as well. After an overwhelming amount of bad press and more Jeep rollover accident lawsuits, Jeep marketed the Jeep Wrangler to "repair" the problem and provide a new image to the sport utility department. Unfortunately the Jeep Wrangler also had Jeep rollover accidents. Once again, Jeep had to made some changes in their new Jeep Wrangler which did in fact make it more stable and reduce the numbers of Jeep rollover accidents and ultimately a reduction in the number of lawsuits. Jeep then started to market a much sportier and family friendly model of the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. This approach was a huge success to the Jeep division of Chrysler. As more and more people purchased the ever popular Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee and even the Jeep Grand Waggoneer Limited, the numbers of Jeep rollover accidents and roof crush injuries remained. Surprisingly Jeep came out with another SUV, named the Jeep Liberty. It is a short sporty mini SUV that was created to contend with the RAV4 and Ford Escape class of vehicles. Jeep Liberty rollovers started as well. Only time will tell if the Jeep Liberty rollover problem will be resolved or not.
Texas Legal Help Center - The Alleged Jeep Reverse Defect
Jeep SUVs that are not repaired may seem to be in park. Unfortunately, a hidden internal shaft lever within the transmission can in fact land on a flat area between reverse and park, leaving the car in hydraulic neutral. From this spot, commonly referred to as "false park mode," slight vibrations or movements can supposedly cause the Jeep's lever to slip into reverse gear and the Jeep to move.
For Jeeps produced from 1993 through 1998 that have not been fixed under the recall, the shift from park to reverse could happen when the Jeep's motor is running or shut off. A door slamming, or even an air conditioner cycling, could cause the shifter to slip and shift the vehicle into reverse.
According to press reports, the rate of park to reverse complaints for Jeep Grand Cherokees was more than five times greater than for any similar SUV made by a different company. Prior to the recall, more than 860 people complained to the government or to DaimlerChrysler about "inadvertent rollway in reverse" incidents involving Jeep Grand Cherokees, which were blamed for at least 359 crashes, 184 injuries and five deaths.
|