Grand Cherokee's safety investigated

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities have begun a preliminary inquiry into complaints that Jeep Grand Cherokees may have a defect that causes them to suddenly switch into reverse, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

A story on the paper's Web site said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received at least 48 complaints of what it calls "inadvertent rollaway in reverse" involving 1995 to 1999 Grand Cherokees, according to an agency document.

The incidents have led to 32 crashes and 14 injuries, the newspaper said. No deaths have been reported. Most of the incidents allegedly occurred while the sport utility vehicles were idling with the gearshift in the "park" position.

"Obviously, we've seen a trend that's of enough concern that we've decided to open an investigation," Rae Tyson, spokesman for the federal safety agency, told the Times.

"We don't want to prejudge it, but it warrants a closer look."

Chrysler officials did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press last night.

The investigation affects about 1.3 million of the popular SUVs. The paper said documents refer to one incident in which a motorist's Cherokee pin-ned him against a pickup truck, and another in which a woman's leg was crushed.

Other drivers have complained of Cherokees taking off on their own in parking lots or crossing roads and crashing into trees and buildings.

Dominick Infante, safety spokesman for DaimlerChrysler Corp., which builds the Grand Cherokee, told the Times that the company is cooperating. He said the vehicle has been redesigned, and models since 1999 have a new type of transmission.

"We don't believe there is an issue with the vehicle, but we will investigate," Infante said.