1990 JEEP CHEROKEE Vehicle Speed Control Problems

S10 DIRECT REPLY- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT REGARDING A CAR ACCIDENT IN ARCADIA, FL IN MARCH 2013. *SMD A 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IN A DRAINAGE DITCH, ACROSS FROM TWO OTHER VEHICLES, THAT WERE PARKED. THE OWNERS DAUGHTER GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE JEEP,STARTED IT AND PLACED IT IN DRIVE, WITH THE INTENTION OF REMOVING IT FROM THE DITCH, AS SHE FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL, THE JEEP FLEW OUT OF THE DITCH GOING AIRBORNE, AND KNOCKED DOWN THE OWNER TO THE GROUND, CAUSING BRUISES, NEXT, THE JEEP FLEW OVER THE ROAD NEVER TOUCHING THE PAVEMENT, THE DRIVER DID NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PRESUMABLY OUT OF FEAR, UNTIL IT RESTED ON TOP OF TWO PARKED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER, WHO WAS NOT LICENSED, CLAIMED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR. HOWEVER, THE WRECKER SERVICE, WHO WAS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO START IT.

I HAVE OWNED A JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1990 FOR YEARS NOW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENTS MORE THAN TEN TIMES NOW, MOST RECENTLY IN 2008. IT SEEMS EACH TIME I WILL BE DRIVING ALONG, POSSIBLY BRAKING, AND ZOOM! THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. IT IS LIKE DRIVING A CAR OUT OF CONTROL. I AM AWARE THAT CHRYSLER HAS BLAMED SUCH OCCURRENCES ON OPERATOR ERROR BUT, MORE THAN ONCE NOW, I HAVE CHECKED TO BE SURE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THIS ACCELERATION WAS HAPPENING. THE WHOLE TIME I'M STOMPING ON THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AGAINST IT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO FASTER EVEN THOUGH I'M BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ENOUGH TIMES THAT I HAVE EVEN HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT. I KNOW I SHOULD JUST BUY A NEW VEHICLE BUT I MORALLY I COULD NOT SELL IT TO ANYONE, NOR TRADE IT IN, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS REAL. I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MANY ACCIDENTS THIS HAS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED OVER THE YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

VEHICLE WAS ON ROAD WHILE THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

Mileage: 200,000

SUDDEN ENGINE ACCELERATION, 2000-2500 RPMS AT STOP OR NEUTRAL WHEN NORMAL IS 800 RPMS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT OVER THREE YEARS. IN THE TWO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING STOPPED THE HIGH REVVING. THIS LAST TIME, IT WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE FOR 20 MINUTES. I HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKE AND USE NEUTRAL IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS A 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE. IF HAS EFI, ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND CRUISE CONTROL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.*AK

WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE ENGINE RACES VERY HIGH, VHEICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO TAKE OFF, CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD FOOT ON BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER START THE THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 90V17700/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 301T. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER REGARDING RECALL. DEALER STATED VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, AND RAN OVER OWNER'S WIFE. THIS OCCURRED IN JULY 1997.*AK ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP, VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND STRUCK A BARBEQUE GRILL, A SET OF STEPS, THEN HIS WIFE, WHERE SHE WAS CRUSHED AND THEN DRUG APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, AT THE SCENE A POLICE OFFICER POINTED OUT THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE MAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE PEDALS, POSSIBLE THROTTLE FAILURE AND IN THE EVENT CONSUMER TRYING TO HIT THE BRAKES CAUSING THE MAT TO BE STUCK. *SLC

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, AND RAN OVER OWNER'S WIFE. THIS OCCURRED IN JULY 1997.*AK ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP, VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND STRUCK A BARBEQUE GRILL, A SET OF STEPS, THEN HIS WIFE, WHERE SHE WAS CRUSHED AND THEN DRUG APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, AT THE SCENE A POLICE OFFICER POINTED OUT THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE MAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE PEDALS, POSSIBLE THROTTLE FAILURE AND IN THE EVENT CONSUMER TRYING TO HIT THE BRAKES CAUSING THE MAT TO BE STUCK. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL INTERMITENTLY HAVE A HIGH IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED. VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED OI A SAFETY RECALL.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED IT HAS A VERY HIGH IDLE, AND IT GETS STUCK IN THIS POSITION. THEIR IS RECALL 90V117 FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE / DECELERATE. *YC

JEEP WILL IDLE FAST UNEXPECTEDLY (2000-4000 RPM). NEEDED TO REMOVE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND SCRUB CLEAN, AS HIGH IDLE SPEED IS DUE TO THE ROD STICKING IN THE THROTTLE BODY. WAS STOPPED AT LIGHT DURING SNOWSTORM WITH FAMILY WHEN REAR WHEELS BEGAN TO SPIN. PLACED JEEP IN NEUTRAL AND IDLE WAS OVER 3000 RPM. CAREFULLY COMPLETED TRIP HOME (LESS THAN 1 MILE) AND THOROUGHLY CLEANED IDLE CONTROL VALVE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE. DESIGN FLAW IN CHRYSLER'S THROTTLE BODY. CHRYSLER SEEMS TO BLAME THIS PROBLEM ON 'WRONG PEDAL APPLICATION', BUT I HAVE SHOWN OTHERWISE, AS WHEN THE HIGH IDLE OCCURRED, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

10 TO 15 ESCOND CRANKING TO START, ON START UP IDLES AT 2000 TO 2500 RPM'S FOR 2 TO 4 MINUTES, DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WONT LOCK OR UNLOCK DOOR OR REAR HATCH, LINKAGE BINDS, NO BACK UP LIGHTS, BOTH FT WIND WING WINDOWS LEAK AIR & WATER, CLUNKING WHEN STARTING & STOPPING FROM TRANSMISSION AREA, FUEL PUMP NOISY, FUEL INJECTORS LEAK RAW FUEL ON HOT DAYS *AK

RECALL 90V-177 000/ FUEL INJECTION: IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE. DEFECT REOCCURRED AT 40,0000 MILES. FUEL INJECTION MALFUNCTIONIONED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED. DEALER /MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

MY VEHICLE HAD A STICKER INDICATING THAT THE TPS RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TPS THAT CAUSED THE ORIGINAL RECALL ON THE PART. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS BEEN CAUSING INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEEDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE IDLE CANNOT BE REDUCED BY TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL. THE RPMS CONTINUE TO INCREASE UNTIL I TURN MY VEHICLE OFF. I HAVE TO RESTART THE ENGINE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 6 TIMES BEFORE I CAN GET A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE IDLE SPEED HAS INCREASED WHEN I PLACED IT IN GEAR. IT HAS BEEN SO BAD THAT EVEN WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE THE CAR STILL MOVES. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND I FEEL THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT ACTUALLY WORKS RIGHT. I AM WONDERING WHETHER THE ORIGINAL PART WAS ACTUALLY REPLACED WHEN THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE OR WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT PART IS JUST AS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS AS THE ORIGINAL. I HAVE TAKEN MY JEEP TO SEVERAL MECHANICS FOR THIS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT A YEAR AGO. SO FAR EVERYONE I'VE TAKEN IT TO INCLUDING THE CERTIFIED JEEP DEALER/ SERVICE IN CHICO, CA., COURTESY MOTORS HAS TOLD ME THAT THE TPS IS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE AT ITS OWN WILL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 10, 1999 FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT, AMONG A SERIOSLY LONG LIST OF OTHER THINGS, THIS PART WAS SERIOUSLY MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER ASC CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT GRAND AUTO IN CHICO TOLD ME TODAY THAT THIS PART SHOULD DEFINITELY BE REPLACEABLE UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V177000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL INJECTION IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT. PLEASE CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE AT : (530)893-0684 HOME OR (530)218-4826 WORK . THANK YOU. SINCERELY, DEBORAH DAVIS

I HAD FOUND THESE MALFUNCTIONS ON THE INTERNET UNDER THE WB56.COM ON THE RECALL SECTION. UNDER 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE

THROTTLE PEDAL IS STICKING, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER; DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM . NHTSA RECALL 97I-002. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS AT ALL SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND PARKED ON HILLS. SHUTS OFF AT IDLE, SHUTTING DOWN MOTOR/POWER STEERING/BRAKES, ETC. SHUTS OFF AND RESTARTS WHEN AT SPEED, CAUSING SEVERE BUCKING/JERKING.

I SENT TWO COMPLAINTS IN LETTER FORM. ONE WAS IN JANUARY TO THE DOT IN WASHINGTON DC, AND I SENT ANOTHER LETTER TO THE NHTSA OFFICE IN WHITE PLAINS, NY ON APRIL 5TH. PLEASE CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR EMAIL BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY JEEP THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL OTHER DRIVERS AND MYSELF. CHRYSLER FAILS TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, AND I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THEIR INADEQUATE CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT STARTS AT AN HIGH IDLE, AND DOES NOT COME DOWN TO ITS RIGHT IDLE SPEED DUE TO A BAD THROTTLE SENSOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RELEASING IT THE VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATES AT A HIGH SPEED. ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *AK

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILURE.

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY RACES OR IDLES HIGH AT START UP AND ALSO OCCURS AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. THE SPEED REACHES UP TO 65MPH WITHOUT PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEITHER CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION,RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING INSTALLATION OF A "BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK" WHICH APPEARS TO THE OWNER TO SOLVE THE COMMON SPORATIC HIGH IDLE VOLUME. THE OWNER RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BY HEAVY CLEANING THE GUNK SOLIDIFIED ON THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. OWNER HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS.

HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN FIRST PLACED IN GEAR PRIOR TO RECALL (90V-177). *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HIGH IDLE SPEED ON OCCASIONS.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING VEHICLE COLLISION.

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CAUSING HIGH IDLE PRIOR TO RECALL; RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO DATE OF VEHICLE. (90V-177). *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HIGH IDLE AFTER START; DIFFICULT TI CONTROL AT STOPS. REPLACED TP SENSOR. *AK

OWNER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT STOP. VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET BACKWARDS, STICKING AND KILLING OWNERS WIFE IN THE DRIVE WAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ALTHOUGH BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED.

CRUISE CONTROL WIRE FAILED.

THROTTLE BODY DIRTY.

VEHICLE GOES INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING, HIGH IDLE. TO STOP VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES REALLY HARD. *AK

OWNER HAD RECALL WORK DONE FOR A FAULTY THROTTLE SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED, RECALL NO. 90V177000. *AK

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED SIX TIMES AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, CAUSING ENGINE TO IDLE HIGH AND STALL.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD IN INCLEMENT WEATHER UPON APPLYING BRAKES, ALSO WHEN FIRST STARTED VEHICLE REVS UP TO 2500 RPM.

HIGH ENGINE IDLE.

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO UNWANTED ACCELERATION DUE TO THROTTLE SENSOR BEING POSSIBLE CAUSE, ALSO VEHICLE WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING NO MATTER OF WEATHER OR ROAD CONDITIONS AND DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO UNWANTED ACCELERATION DUE TO THROTTLE SENSOR BEING POSSIBLE CAUSE, ALSO VEHICLE WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING NO MATTER OF WEATHER OR ROAD CONDITIONS AND DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IN WET WEATHER THE JEEP ACCELERATES, CAN'T STOP THE JEEP ONLY IN THE RAIN . PLEASE DESCRIBE .AK

FUEL THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. *AK

VEHICLE SURGES, THEN DIES.

FAILURE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, CAN NOT TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *AK

FAILURE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, CAN NOT TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *AK

HIGH IDLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ ACCIDENT. *AK

WHEN PUTTING JEEP FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE JEEP ACCELERATES . TT

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, TOOK IT OUT OF GEAR AND CAME TO A STOP. TT

THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE OR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TT

PULLING INTO DRIVE WAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. TT

SUDDEN ACCELERATION PRIOR TO RECALL (90V-177). *SKD

UPON STARTING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AW

4TH THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TT

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (90V-177). *AK