TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JAGUAR XK CONVERTIBLE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING FORWARD AT LESS THAN 2 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL IT WAS APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS COMMON AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ADVISED TO CALL BACK IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WORKED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES FROM THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS, BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; HOWEVER, HE IS SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB
2014
WHEELS
I BOUGHT A NEW XK IN AUGUST. I HAVE TO QUESTION THE RATIONALE FOR EQUIPPING IT WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES (VIRTUAL RACING SLICKS) IN MINNESOTA. ON A WARM SUMMER DAY WITH ONLY A LITTLE RAIN, THE TIRES LOSE TRACTION FREQUENTLY. IN WINTER THEY ARE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. EVEN WITH ONLY AN INCH OF SNOW, THE FRONT WHEELS LOSE TRACTION IN GOING AROUND A CORNER AT ONLY FIVE MILES AN HOUR. THE REAL WHEELS HAVE SO LITTLE TRACTION THAT EVEN WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS TURNED ON, THE REAR END FISHTAILS WHEN TURNING. OUR STREET IS FLAT AND YET, WITH ONLY A LITTLE SNOW ON THE ROAD, THE CAR CAN NOT MOVE OVER 2 -3 MPH WITHOUT LOSING TRACTION SO IT INCHES ALONG, IF IT MOVES AT ALL. IT SEEMS TO BE THE HEIGHT OF STUPIDITY TO ASSUME THAT MOST DRIVERS WOULD DRIVE OVER 120 MILES AND HOUR MORE OFTEN THAN THEY DRIVE IN RAIN OR SNOW. WHAT ARE THE JAGUAR MARKETING PEOPLE (AND NHTSA) THINKING? PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY $90,000 FOR A CAR WANT SOMETHING THAT IS SAFE AND THEY DON'T DRIVE OVER 120 MPH SO DON'T NEED OR WANT HIGH PERFORMANCE RACING TIRES THAT ARE SUITABLE ONLY FOR DRY PAVEMENT. WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO TO REQUIRE CARS TO COME EQUIPPED WITH REACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO EQUIP A CAR WITH TIRES THAT TOTALLY DEFEAT THOSE SYSTEMS? YOU REQUIRE AIR BAGS, CENTER TAIL LIGHTS, ETC, IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, BUT ALLOW CARS TO BE SOLD WITH DANGEROUS TIRES UNSUITABLE FOR THE CLIMATE THEY ARE TO BE DRIVEN IN. SHOULDN'T NHTSA REQUIRE CARS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH SAFE TIRES WHEN THEY ARE SOLD? IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY UNSAFE TIRES AFTER THAT, OK; BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT A CAR TO BE SAFE UNDER TYPICAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN I BUY IT. RAIN AND SNOW ARE TYPICAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR