Fiat Chrysler is recalling 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokees because the floor mat could slide forward and jam the accelerator.
Remember way back in 2009 when Toyota issued a huge recall because floor mats could slide forward and jam the accelerator-pedal in the on position? And after that most cars started getting little hooks to keep the floor mat from sliding around? Apparently, that didn’t happen in Jeep Grand Cherokees.
Fiat Chrysler is recalling 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and SRT models for an issue that should have been fixed nearly a decade ago. The recall affects 4,822 Grand Cherokees in the US, along with 996 in Canada, 164 in Mexico, and 763 in various other locales around the world.
At issue is the doormat, which could slide forward and trap the gas pedal in the “drive like a maniac” position. FCA notes that although this is a scary possibility, it still won’t cause a Speed-type scenario as all FCA vehicles are equipped with brake-throttle override, a safety feature that ops to listen to the brake-pedal if the car detects simultaneous brake-pedal and accelerator-pedal application.
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That safety feature doesn’t engage immediately, so you still might end up in a fender bender if you’re not careful.
FCA is aware of no accidents or injuries, but better safe than sorry. They’re advising all owners of 2018 Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawks to remove the driver’s side floor mat until they get a replacement that won’t slide around.
Jeep is also recalling 11 sets of same floor mats sold as accessories between November 2017 and March 2018. If you know where these floor mats have run off to, please contact FCA so they can be returned home. Their parents are very worried about them. They might have fallen into the wrong crowd, like a Ford Escape.
And to all the other car manufacturers out there: please make floor mats with little hooks so they don’t slide around.