general problems of the 2000 Jeep Cherokee

This report is being submitted by a children's hospital on behalf of a patient family. A 10 year old patient was riding in the back seat of a 2000 Jeep Cherokee when family was involved in a crash at approximately 60 mph. Patient and family report that the seat belt in her seating position 'popped' open at the buckle at the time of impact. According to patient and family the seat belt was properly buckled prior to the crash. Patient sustained injuries requiring hospitalization that are not expected to result in long term disability. Patient's 4 year old sibling was also buckled in a booster seat in the back seat; this seatbelt remained buckled and the sibling was uninjured.

The seat belt on my 2000 Jeep Cherokee has come unintentionally unlatched 2 times within the 2 months I have owned the vehicle. Once as I was traveling about 25 mph I was forced to slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a child who ran into the street. The second time occurred as I was traveling over a road under repair. I hit a large pothole, bounced and as I came back down, the seat belt unbuckled.