On May 18th, 2015, on my way to Grand Forks, at approx 1:40 pm, I had just passed another vehicle, and had pulled back on the right side again, and was slowing back down to normal speed, when the car suddenly accelerated, and began gaining speed. When I looked to see what the gauges were reading, I saw the symbol for the cruise control was on. I didn't put it on. I cancelled the cruise control, but when I looked to make sure it was off, it was still showing. I cancelled it again. The red lightning symbol in parenthesis was showing, so I quickly braked and pulled over to the side of the road. I put the car in park and shut the motor off. I waited for 5 minutes, trying to calm down. I tried to restart the car, but all the warning lights were on in the dash, and the motor was turning over, but wouldn't fire. I put my 4-way flashers on and went for help.
At 4 pm, the tow truck picked up the car, and found the car running perfectly. He dropped the car off at our home. The next day, I took the car back to the dealer I purchased the car from. When the car was examined, they said that the problem showed, but not the cruise control problem. During the road test, the mechanic said he tromped on the pedal and was able to get it to the same thing. When I was told about the findings, I was told that my mat had caused the pedal to stick, and, when I asked about the red lightning warning coming on, they tried to tell me that I must have used 2 feet, one on the brake, and one on the accelerator at the same time!
That is total nonsense! I have been driving for 51 years, and have never used my left foot unless I am driving a standard shift vehicle! I have a clean driving record, and am an excellent driver. I have no reason to believe that this was caused by either the mat, which has been in the car since we bought it, and is never up under the accelerator, or by myself using 2 feet! The mechanics were just fishing for excuses. The worst thing is that they allowed me to take the van away without even looking further into the problem, putting me at risk of another incident, and possibly getting into an accident! Now, I am afraid of the car doing the same thing again. Next time, I may not be in a circumstance that I can get off the road without accident or, worse, without injury to myself or anyone else in the path of the car!
Very freaky feeling when the car just takes off like that!! Going on ferries to Vancouver Island at the end of May, and worried that it might happen while I'm in lineups for ferries, or, worse, in confined space on the ferries!! Not to mention, in heavy traffic! Dodge dealership has no concern for my safety, or the safety of those in the car or around the car! I found a site on the internet about the problem being caused by a TIPM, which is in vehicles from 2007 - 2014. So many repairs made that they ran out of replacement parts.The Center for Auto Safety is seeking a recall of all Chrysler vehicles with defective TIPMs and replacement with a redesigned module that provides safe and reliable vehicle control". The sooner the better!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
On May 18th, 2015, on my way to Grand Forks, at approx 1:40 pm, I had just passed another vehicle, and had pulled back on the right side again, and was slowing back down to normal speed, when the car suddenly accelerated, and began gaining speed. When I looked to see what the gauges were reading, I saw the symbol for the cruise control was on. I didn't put it on. I cancelled the cruise control, but when I looked to make sure it was off, it was still showing. I cancelled it again. The red lightning symbol in parenthesis was showing, so I quickly braked and pulled over to the side of the road. I put the car in park and shut the motor off. I waited for 5 minutes, trying to calm down. I tried to restart the car, but all the warning lights were on in the dash, and the motor was turning over, but wouldn't fire. I put my 4-way flashers on and went for help.
At 4 pm, the tow truck picked up the car, and found the car running perfectly. He dropped the car off at our home. The next day, I took the car back to the dealer I purchased the car from. When the car was examined, they said that the problem showed, but not the cruise control problem. During the road test, the mechanic said he tromped on the pedal and was able to get it to the same thing. When I was told about the findings, I was told that my mat had caused the pedal to stick, and, when I asked about the red lightning warning coming on, they tried to tell me that I must have used 2 feet, one on the brake, and one on the accelerator at the same time!
That is total nonsense! I have been driving for 51 years, and have never used my left foot unless I am driving a standard shift vehicle! I have a clean driving record, and am an excellent driver. I have no reason to believe that this was caused by either the mat, which has been in the car since we bought it, and is never up under the accelerator, or by myself using 2 feet! The mechanics were just fishing for excuses. The worst thing is that they allowed me to take the van away without even looking further into the problem, putting me at risk of another incident, and possibly getting into an accident! Now, I am afraid of the car doing the same thing again. Next time, I may not be in a circumstance that I can get off the road without accident or, worse, without injury to myself or anyone else in the path of the car!
Very freaky feeling when the car just takes off like that!! Going on ferries to Vancouver Island at the end of May, and worried that it might happen while I'm in lineups for ferries, or, worse, in confined space on the ferries!! Not to mention, in heavy traffic! Dodge dealership has no concern for my safety, or the safety of those in the car or around the car! I found a site on the internet about the problem being caused by a TIPM, which is in vehicles from 2007 - 2014. So many repairs made that they ran out of replacement parts.The Center for Auto Safety is seeking a recall of all Chrysler vehicles with defective TIPMs and replacement with a redesigned module that provides safe and reliable vehicle control". The sooner the better!
- Ronald / Evelyn S., Greenwood, BC, Canada