FaultScore

1999 Jeep Cherokee brake problems

117 of the 516 complaints about the 1999 Jeep Cherokee are about the braking system — 23% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 76,900 miles.

D

117

Complaints

5

Crashes

2

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rotor 48 41.0%
Disc 21 17.9%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 20 17.1%
Foundation Components 6 5.1%
Service Brakes 5 4.3%
Caliper 3 2.6%
Wheel Cylinders 3 2.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3 2.6%
Pedals AND Linkages 2 1.7%
Pads 2 1.7%

Brakes across every Jeep Cherokee year

1989 119 5.5%
1990 178 8.2%
1991 188 8.7%
1992 51 2.4%
1993 160 7.4%
1994 71 3.3%
1995 95 4.4%
1996 113 5.2%
1997 83 3.8%
1998 101 4.7%
1999 117 5.4%
2000 124 5.7%
2001 64 3.0%
2014 213 9.8%
2015 137 6.3%
2016 104 4.8%
2017 63 2.9%
2018 38 1.8%
2019 110 5.1%
2020 26 1.2%
2021 14 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 223,827 miles Whittaker, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE BRAKE LINES BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER (CUETER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,827.

NHTSA complaint #11091961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 179,962 miles Youngsville, LA

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN, PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE, ARRIVING AT A STOP-LIGHT WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, PEDAL SEEMED TO HAVE NO LEVERAGE TO IT. I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND PADS, THOSE COMPONENTS SEEMED TO BE FINE. AND HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10748667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washougal, WA

SERVICE BRAKES

NO CRASH, NO ACCIDENT THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON SAFETY AND LACK OF AVAILABILITY TO A "DO IT YOURSELF" (DIY) CERTIFIED MECHANIC ON BRAKE BLEEDING. I AM A CERTIFIED AVIATION MECHANIC AND WELL VERSED ON BLEEDING BRAKES. ON THE JEEP LISTED THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO USE A SCANNER (THE CHRYSLER DRB III SCAN TOOL) WHICH PLUGS INTO THE OBD-2 SYSTEM TO RUN THE PUMP IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS RUNNING OF THE ABS PUMP SHOULD MOVE ANY AIR WITHIN, INTO THE LINES SO THAT SUBSEQUENT BLEEDING OF THE WHEEL LINES WILL REMOVE THE AIR. THE SCANNER COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR THE DIY MECHANIC AND THE OWNER IS FORCED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR PROPER BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES. EVEN A USED SCANNER IS VALUED AT $3977 ON EBAY THIS DATE. THERE ARE VARIOUS "TRICKS" TO GET THE ABS PUMP TO RUN, SUCH AS A PANIC STOP ON A SLICK GRASSY SURFACE AND THAT WILL GET THE PUMP TO RUN, BUT THE BRAKES MUST BE BLED IMMEDIATELY TO GET THE DESIRED RESULTS, ON THE SLICK, GRASSY SURFACE. THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE DISSERVICE TO THE MECHANIC IN THE FIELD AND THE GREAT SAFETY ISSUES THAT COULD ARISE WITH IMPROPERLY BLED BRAKES. WITHOUT THE ABS BLED PROPERLY, THE BRAKES ARE MUSHY AND EVEN AFTER PUMPING, ARE NOT THE BRAKES THEY SHOULD BE FOR THE SAFETY OF NEARLY A TWO TON VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE AN AFFORDABLE SCAN TOOL THAT WILL DO THE JOB FOR THE BASIC MECHANIC WHO WANTS TO DO THEIR VEHICLE HIM/HER SELF AND THOSE SAME FOLKS SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER JUST TO ACHIEVE THE PROPER SAFETY STANDARDS.

NHTSA complaint #10680079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,056 miles East Greenbush, NY

SERVICE BRAKES

THE REAR BRAKE LINE (STEEL) NOT THE RUBBER LINE FAILED WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH, DESPITE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (BLEEDING OF OLD FLUID) BEING PERFORMED. IT WAS DETERMINED BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO SEVERE ROT. THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF A CORROSION RESISTANT METAL.

NHTSA complaint #10664750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles Williamsburg, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

NEAR MISS REAR END COLLISION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES EITHER THE TURN SIGNALS LEFT AND RIGHT WILL NOT WORK OR THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT LAMP ASSEMBLIES WILL NOT WORK. FOUND A ELECTRICAL GROUNDING ISSUE WITH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY WITH REGARDS TO BRAKE LIGHTS. WITH REGARDS TO THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. IN ADDITION, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AND LOCKED AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LAMPS COME ON AND OFF FOR UNKNOWN REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10644255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,000 miles Nahant, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE. SEAT WOBBLES BACK AND FORTH. OBVIOUSLY AN UNSAFE SITUATION BEING STRAPPED INTO A SEAT THAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO VEHICLE. WILL FORCE OF PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL TOTALLY SEPARATE SEAT FROM VEHICLE? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE RELATIVE TO PASSENGER RESTRAINT (ME) AND BRAKING OR STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE(OTHERS). I HAVE READ WHERE THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON JEEPS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE. CLEARLY, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT FRAME FAIL ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OPERATED. THIS IS NOT RUST RELATED. IT IS SIMPLY A FAILED VEHICLE WEIGHT REDUCTION PROGRAM THAT HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A FULL BLOWN SAFETY CONCERN FOR BOTH THOSE IN THE VEHICLE AND ANYONE ELSE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN ITS GENERAL PROXIMITY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS VEHICLE OWNERS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE THESE VEHICLES UNTIL THE SEAT TOTALLY SEVERS ITS COMPROMISED MOUNTING AND BECOMES TOTALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN THE MEAN TIME, ANYONE IN ITS PATH IS AT SERIOUS RISK.

NHTSA complaint #10395211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY BRAKES "FUSED" TOGETHER, AND I HAD TO DOWN SHIFT QUICKLY IN ORDER TO STOP. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY BRAKE "KNUCKLES", AND THAT JEEP IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT DOES NOT FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR, AND IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #10172424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Presque Isle, ME

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BAD ROTORS.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SEVERE SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH. AS A RESULT THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON OCT 9, 2002. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ROTORS WENT BAD AGAIN AND WERE REPLACED ON MAY 8, 2003, JUNE 9, 2003, MAR 5, 2004 AND JUNE 2004. ON JULY 8, 2004 THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITH THE NEW UPGRADE PACKAGE AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE, HOWEVER 9 MONTHS LATER THE SEVERE SHUDDER RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #10124696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Lowell, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE BRAKING ANY SPEED BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10103626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,045 miles Beverly, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE BRAKE ROTORS FOUND TO BE RUSTED SEVERELY.*MR DURING A FREE BRAKE CHECK THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED. THIS SET OF ROTOR WERE THE REPLACEMENT PUT ON BY THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 SETS OF ROTORS IN FIVE YEARS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10089382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,500 miles LAS Vegas, NV

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE FRONT ROTORS VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM ANY SPEED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10081385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynnfield, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE WILL STOP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #10061576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,000 miles Santa Rosa, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10048333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Washington DC, DC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

1999 JEEP CHEROKEE - REAR BRAKES OCCASIONALLY LOCK UP DURING/AFTER WET WEATHER. NOT SPEED RELATED. REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS REPLACED AT 35K MILES AND 70K MILES (JUNE 2003). REMEDY IS TO SLOWLY PUMP BRAKES WHEN STOPPING UNTIL LOCKING-UP NO LONGER OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10045047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pickerington, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10032484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED IN ONE OF THE STATES FOR RECALL #00V136000. HOWEVER, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10031817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

THE CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED IN ONE OF THE STATES FOR RECALL #00V136000. HOWEVER, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10031817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,800 miles Towson, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE PROBLEMS - ROTORS/CALIPERS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS - ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10028356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,800 miles Towson, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE PROBLEMS - ROTORS/CALIPERS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS - ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10028356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,800 miles Towson, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

BRAKE PROBLEMS - ROTORS/CALIPERS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS - ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10028356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,052 miles Raleigh, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK TSB # 05 033 02 WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER REPLACED AT OWN EXPENSE. AT 56K MILES, THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED LIGHTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED SEVERELY AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10022649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita, KS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB PH

NHTSA complaint #10019595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woonsocket, RI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10017488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockledge, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS, HOWEVER 1 YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10015066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Priest River, ID

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10006136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unkown, IA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE BRAKE/ROTOR PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE A PERMANENT FIX. THE CONSUMER STATES THE EVERY 6-9 MONTHS(AVERAGE)THE BRAKES/ROTORS MUST BE REPAIRED-3 TIMES. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #785889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UKN, 00

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #786237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fair Oaks, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO SETS OF BRAKES SINCE NEW, 60,000 MILES AGO. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES THE FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPHER WARPS CAUSING VIBRATION AND SHIMMYING OF FRONT OF VEHICLE TO THE POINT OF "NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL". THERE IS A "SERVICE BULLETIN" OUT FROM CHRYSLER TO CHANGE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHEN CUSTOMERS COME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER MUST PAY $425.00 FOR THIS COMPONENT. IF THE COMPONENT MUST BE REPLACED. THERE SHOULD BE NO COST REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS POSITION. CAN YOU HELP??? TS

NHTSA complaint #768003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Higgins Lake, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

CONSUMER STATES SINCE 30,000 MILES AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PURSATING WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASION. NOW AT THE PRESENT TIME DEALER INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES SYSTEM NEED TO BE OVERHAUL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEED FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE. BRAKE ROTORS WERE RECUT DOWN AT 28,000. FAILURE REOCCURRED AFTER SOME MILEAGE ACCUMULATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK

NHTSA complaint #8019176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Jeep Cherokee problems

← Full 1999 Jeep Cherokee report