The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the brake pedal became inoperable and felt spongy while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to operate, and a crunching sound was heard while turning the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that multiple incorrect warning messages illuminated on the instrument panel, including the Start/Stop warning message and a door open warning message. The contact stated that the failures began after the vehicle had been repaired under a tailgate recall. The vehicle was taken to another dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer advised the contact to return to the previous dealer for repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,600.
Jeep Cherokee spongy pedal problems
11 of the 14,523 owner complaints about the Jeep Cherokee describe soft or spongy brake pedal, most of them for the 1990 model year.
- owner complaints
- 11
- worst model year
- 1990
By model year
- 20152
- 20001
- 19951
- 19913
- 19904
Often reported together
What owners say
Transmission shifting and reliability. We have the trailhawk version of the cherokee. We are having issues of a clank/bang occasionally about 40-42mph; it can be felt in the floorboard. Sometimes we will get this in reverse when we start to move. The biggest complaint is when trying to leave a light or intersection and step on the gas nothing happens or it slowing starts to speed up or it takes off like a jackrabbit. It is not consistent. When leaving an intersection we are not confident in what type of reaction we are going to get. Will it move or maybe decide to move eventually. Also, normal acceleration seems spongy or bouncy. It is like pressing gas pedal down (slightly) then letting off; on off, on off, on off. It happens quickly until we reach 20 plus MPH. If we select the sport mode, I have not noticed the spongy feeling on acceleration. I think that knowing how your car is going/supposed to respond when applying the brake or pressing the accelerator pedal is important the safety and confidence in driving one's vehicle. My wife has also experienced the parking brake reapplying when she is backing out of a parking spot at her work. The parking lot is on a slope. She backs up and when she tries to go forward it doesn't want to move. Then she looks and the parking brake is back on. She has to turn it off again to move. We also have been having issues with the rear hatch. The dealership has done the recall for the electric lift mechanism. We have issues when it won't open electrically and issues with it not latching. There was nothing in the cargo area to interfere with the hatch operation. We have addressed these issues especially with the transmission several times with the jeep dealership and have left messages with no response to the messages. We currently have 20600 miles on the 2015 cherokee.
Tl* the contact owns a 1991 jeep cherokee. While driving at any speed, the brake pedal became stiff and the ABS light illuminated. The failure was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
While driving brake pedal became hard to depress. There was a safety campaign for several brake components, but the dealer was not able to supply all the parts to complete the repair. The vehicle could not be driven without the parts installed.
Brake light has illuminated. When this light is on brake pedal is spongy, and somtimes when applying the brakes, it causes vehicle to pull hard to the right. Dealer has been contacted. *ak consumer said the problem is ABS controller.
A great deal of pressure needs to be applied in order to adequately bring vehicle to a complete stop. Brakes feel spongy.
I acquired this vehicle specifically because it had 4-wheel anti-lock brakes. A few weeks ago, for the first time, I had to perform a "hard brake" to avoid hitting three deer. Much to my surprise, I had "hard pedal" but virtually no brakes! I narrowly avoided oncoming traffic and limped into my driveway. Noone could understand how I could have hard pedal without brakes. (all relays proved to be okay.) I had the car towed to a local tire dealer to see if they could determine what was wrong. They were astonished to find that both rotors had separated from their hubs as the result of the hard brake. They advised that they thought it had to be a defect in the metal and advised me to take it to my local jeep dealer, cooper motors, in stevens point, wisconsin. The service manager at cooper motors was so astonished to see the separated parts, that he called all the service technicians to the counter to see the parts. However, most of them acknowledged that they had seen this before on a routine basis. If jeep rotor are separating from their hubs and causinig accidents, who would know? If it were discovered during a crash investigation, it would be assumed that it was the consequence of the accident, while, in fact it may actually be the cause! Jeep's comments were to advise me that rotors were only warranteed to 10,000 miles; no mention that one should expect rotors to dis-attach!
While driving, experienced ABS failure, when made attempting to slow down stop, brake pedal became hard, dlr indicates cause is due to malfunctioning of ABS pump.*ak
Experiencing hard brake pedal. Tt consumer feels vehicle is too young to have these kinds of problems, the ABS components should not go, consumer states the ABS pump,ABS accumulator and hyddraulic module assembly have all gone out which is apart of the ABS system.* jb
Abs brake system failed, light came on, brake pedal hard, resulting in excessive long stopping distance, ABS system need to be replace. Tt
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The brake system control module may fail to operate properly, which can cause a loss of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC).
- Risk
- A loss of anti-lock brakes or electronic stability control increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the brake system control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is 29D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning April 16, 2026.
Recall number 26V223000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- Risk
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
Recall number 18V523000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, or wisconsin, and the district of columbia. The front disc brake rotors can experience severe corrosion if operated for an extensive period in the "salt belt." if the rotors are not replaced, the corrosion can eventually compromise the structural integrity of the stamped steel center hub section of the rotor.
- Risk
- The reduced strength can allow the cast iron wear surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake effectiveness of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
Recall number 00V136000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, or wisconsin, and the district of columbia. The front disc brake rotors can experience severe corrosion if operated for an extensive period in the "salt belt." if the rotors are not replaced, the corrosion can eventually compromise the structural integrity of the stamped steel center hub section of the rotor.
- Risk
- The reduced strength can allow the cast iron wear surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake effectiveness of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
Recall number 99V340000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The power brake booster vacuum reservoir diaphragm can split or tear.
- Risk
- This can cause an increase in engine idle speed and a loss of power assist during brake application without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the brake booster date code and any boosters with the suspect manufacturing date range will be replaced.
Recall number 98V023000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, or wisconsin, and the district of columbia. The front disc brake rotors can experience severe corrosion if operated for an extensive period in the "salt belt." if the rotors are not replaced, the corrosion can eventually compromise the structural integrity of the stamped steel center hub section of the rotor.
- Risk
- The reduced strength can allow the cast iron wear surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake effectiveness of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
Recall number 98V005000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with antilock brake system (ABS). The antilock brake system (ABS) hydraulic control unit can experience excessive brake actuator piston seal wear which could cause pump-motor deterioration.
- Risk
- If this occurs, the ABS function would be lose and reduced power assist would be experienced during vehicle braking. The instrument panel warning lights will signal system impairment and the base manual brakes will remain functional.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the vehicle's ABS and repair as necessary. The warranty on all ABS components will be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles (except for the brake actuator piston assembly and the pump-motor assembly which will have a lifetime coverage). Owners will be reimbursed for previous ABS component repair costs.
Recall number 96V260000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical
- What is wrong
- The parking brake handle release button can separate from the parking brake handle assembly, causing the parking brake to be inoperative.
- Risk
- The parking brake may not hold causing the vehicle to roll inadvertently.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the parking brake handle assembly.
Recall number 95V172000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- There may be hydraulic fluid contamination from condensation formation that can plug the ABS brake booster pump filter; stress corrosion of the master cylinder snap ring has been traced to chlorine leaking from the low pressure hydraulic hose which may cause it to break; front brake hose to tire interference which may cause failure of the brake hose.
- Risk
- Contamination of the hydraulic fluid can causemalfunctioning of the anti-lock brake system; low pressure hose leakage causesloss of brake fluid and also results in corrosion and failure of the mastercylinder snap ring, resulting complete brake failure; failure of the front brakehose due to hose to tire interference will cause failure of one half of thebrake system resulting in a longer stopping distance than expected.
- Remedy
- Replace ABS low pressure hose; rebuild master brake cylinder; inspect, service interference problems, and replace front brake hose as necessary.
Recall number 91V003000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Improper insertion/crimping of the hose-to-end fittings of the high pressure hose on the anti-lock brake system can cause detachment of the hose from the ABS system, and discharge of hydraulic fluid.
- Risk
- Detachment of the hose from the ABS system causes theloss of the ABS function and hydraulic brake assist, leaving only manual brakesand decreasing stopping ability, which could result in an accident. Discharge ofhydraulic fluid in the area of the hot exhaust system could result in an enginecompartment fire.
- Remedy
- Replace the ABS high pressure hose.
Recall number 91V063000 · Recall details
Questions about the Jeep Cherokee spongy pedal
Which Jeep Cherokee years have soft or spongy brake pedal problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1990 (4 complaints), 1991 (3 complaints) and 2015 (2 complaints).
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