Jeep Cherokee brake failure problems

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Brakes · 110,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to respond as needed. The contact avoided a crash with another vehicle by moving over to the side of the road, drove onto the grass, and navigated past a nearby pedestrian and a hill. The passenger’s side door was scratched, and the passenger’s side mirror was knocked off the vehicle. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the ABS sensor warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal had locked up and the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Body, Brakes · NY

There was a leak in my trunk that completely shorted out my electric parking break module. My safety and others safety were put at risk because the emergency break was turning on automatically and I could not control it. I noticed it blinking and quickly pulled into a parking lot where the brake went on. I couldn't move the car at that time it took me a couple attempts to get the emergency brake off. I managed to get the car moving and went right back home where then the emergency brake turned on again. I ended up having to call a tow truck. This easily could've been worse if I made the decision to continue on my route that day because the emergency brake was turning on automatically. I took my car to an auto shop who determined with photo evidence that my electric parking brake module was filled with water. They noted "Shorted module Full of water due to trunk water leak. Needs module replacement and connector repair with reprogram. Trunk leak needs to be addressed." A small warning light appeared on my dashboard when the issue started. There was no prior warning lights or problems with the car. I had just gotten my car inspected a few days prior and passed inspection with no issues. I didn't notice the leak until after my emergency brake stopped working. That's when I began to investigate my car and found water in my spare tire compartment.

Filed Apr 1, 2026 · Brakes · 66,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the sunroof, causing the parking brake to become inoperable. The “Service Parking Brake” warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the parking brake failed to function properly and failed to disengage as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the parking brake actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Transmission · 143,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN). While driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact exited the freeway and was driving uphill when they heard a loud pop coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle failed to accelerate, and the contact was unable to move the gear shifter or turn off the vehicle. The vehicle rolled to the side of the road. The contact removed the foot from the brake pedal, and the vehicle rolled backward with the gear shifter in park(P). The parking brake failed to function as intended. The contact depressed the brake pedal several times, and the vehicle failed to stop. Once the vehicle was pulled over onto gravel on the side of the road, the vehicle stopped. The message “Service 4WD” was displayed, and the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) had failed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The dealer informed the contact, and the manufacturer requested that the dealer release the vehicle back to the owner. The contact was informed that two fault codes were retrieved; however, another code was not displayed, and the manufacturer stated that since the other code was not displayed, the VIN was not associated with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN), and that the recall repair would not be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

Filed Jan 7, 2026 · Transmission · IL

Safety issue involving loss of power and braking Prior to receiving a PTU recall notice in January 2025, my vehicle began experiencing sudden and unexpected loss of power while driving, particularly when braking. Since that time, the issue has worsened significantly and now occurs more frequently. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has failed to accelerate properly after braking, creating dangerous situations in traffic. In at least one incident, there was a loss of braking power that nearly caused me to run a red light. Several of these incidents were near-accidents and occurred without warning. I have brought the vehicle to my local Jeep dealership three separate times and fully explained the loss of power and braking concerns. Each time, I was told that all issues are “directly related to the PTU recall,” that there is currently “no solution,” and that “nothing can be done.” The vehicle was returned to me without repairs despite the safety risk. The dealership has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a fix, alternative transportation, or assurance that the vehicle is safe to operate. With a longer commute and the problem occurring more often, I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle and believe an accident outside of my control is inevitable if this continues. This defect presents a serious safety hazard involving loss of acceleration and braking while driving.

Filed Oct 31, 2025 · Body, Electrical · 49,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 20V343000 (Power Train) and 23V338000 (Electrical System, Structure). The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle, and Jeep Roadside Assistance was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the parking brake failed to disengage. The contact left the vehicle parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the liftgate opened independently. Due to the failure, water entered the vehicle during a rainstorm. The contact stated that the liftgate failure persisted. The contact stated that there was mold on the seats, ceiling, dashboard, compartment area in the rear of the vehicle, and the spare tire location. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer refused to inspect or repair the vehicle due to safety concerns for their employees. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

Filed Aug 8, 2025 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · IN

The contact’s daughter owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact was informed that while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to engage. The vehicle jumped a curb, causing the driver to activate the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The Brake Warning light then illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the brake pads were worn. The brake pads were replaced; however, the brake failure warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and test-driven. The contact stated that the brakes failed to engage while the vehicle was shifted into reverse. The dealer engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts store and a diagnostic test was performed and a fault for the brake booster was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being out of stock and needing the manufacturer's permission to sell the part. The vehicle was driven to the residence and remained unrepaired. The contact stated that while driving into the garage and depressing the brake pedal, there was a metallic grinding sound coming from the brakes. The contact became aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V572000 (Service Brakes, Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Jul 31, 2025 · Brakes · 48,000 miles · WV

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake switch was released, however the parking brake failed to release as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts, the parking brake was released. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed park brake switch. The contact was informed that the parking brake switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

Filed Jul 25, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · 30,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a stoplight, the brake pedal was depressed, and the parking brake was activated unintendedly. The contact pressed the parking brake button, but the parking brake failed to release. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the parking brake released. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic to be inspected. The certified mechanic informed the contact of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V917000 (Electrical System). The mechanic informed the contact that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. An appointment for the vehicle to be inspected was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Filed May 27, 2025 · Brakes · TX

The emergency parking brake failed and became stuck in place, making my vehicle unable to get out of park to drive. I am able to shift gears but the EPB is stuck. There is also instances where the EPB has turned on by itself in the middle of driving. I saw there was research ongoing with this issue in 2014-2021 Jeep Cherokees (PE 22-009) which is related to a previous recall (15v-393). I hope this issue is able to progress to a recall as this is severely dangerous and inconvenient. Thankfully this has only happened while I was driving not near other cars but in the event this should happen on the highway for instance it could be catastrophic.