2003 Jeep Wrangler brake problems

SERVICE BRAKES

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while her daughter was attempting to park the vehicle, the brake pedal was extremely difficult to depress, and the vehicle did not immediately stop. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 217,000.

NHTSA complaint #11513355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

AIRBAG COVER PLASTIC ON STEERING WHEEL WAS BREAKING DOWN. THE PLASTIC BECAME VERY STICKY, AS IF SOMEONE POURED A SODA ON IT. IT WOULD NOT CLEAN OFF WITH CLEANERS OR PLASTIC PRESERVERS. I WAS NOT CONFIDENT IT WOULD WORK AS DESIGNED IF AIRBAG DEPLOYED SO I BOUGHT NEW AIRBAG UNIT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE ON MINOR GRADE. IT ALWAYS WORKED UNTIL THE LAST 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE HAD IT ADJUSTED, THE CABLES REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER MY BRAKE PADS ARE NEW OR OLD. IF I DO NOT PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN GEAR, IT WILL MOVE ON ITS OWN, OR IF IT DOES NOT ROLL BACKWARDS, IT WILL, IF ANY LIGHT FORCE IS APPLIED TO IT. I HAD TO INSTALL INSTALL A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE LOCK ON THE REAR BRAKES TO MAKE SURE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE ON A GRADE I KNOW IT IS AN 'OLD' VEHICLE, BUT I LIKE IT A LOT, IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND LOOKS NEW. IT IS MECHANICALLY SIMPLE TO AND INEXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. HOWEVER I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO BUY THINGS LIKE AIRBAGS WHO'S PLASTIC DEGRADES. I AND MY MECHANIC HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE PARKING BRAKE STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAD BEFORE. HE IS A MASTER MECHANIC AND AN EXPERT MACHINIST.

NHTSA complaint #10819181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WARPED ROTORS ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 23,000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. PLUS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS DID NOT APPLY EVEN PRESSURE ON WARPED ROTORS. IF NOT FIXED MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $375.00.

NHTSA complaint #10191204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

WARPED ROTORS ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 23,000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. PLUS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS DID NOT APPLY EVEN PRESSURE ON WARPED ROTORS. IF NOT FIXED MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $375.00.

NHTSA complaint #10191204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

I HAVE A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE PROBLEM: THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR CONTINUES TO WARP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2003, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTOR TURNED. THE WARPED ROTOR CAUSES ALOT OF VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN I HAVE SPOKE TO THE MAINTIENCE FOLKS AT MACK MASEY JEEP THEY HAVE STATED THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH JEEP VEHICLES, THEY HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 100 COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10163140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE GOING UP TO 8 OR 9000 RPM'S. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10107464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. APPR 4 WEEKS AGO MY AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER A TOTAL OF 4 DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD STRANDING MY FAMILY 130 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS DECIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF SOME KIND. AFTER AN ENTIRE WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER AND SOME MISC. WIRING (ALL WARRANTY WORK). THE DAY AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK IT DIED AGAIN, THIS TIME STRANDING MY FAMILY 90 MILES FROM HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THERE'S STILL A SHORT CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACE A WIRING HARNESS THAT THEY SAY IS BAD. AGAIN IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DAY THAT I DRIVE HOME WITH THE VEHICLE MY BRAKES GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THE FUSE BLOWS AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAY THAT ANOTHER WIRING HARNESS IS BAD AND THAT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY IT. I FAIL TO SEE HOW THEY COULD PERFORM WARRANTY WORK TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TWICE AND THEN DECIDE THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER WARRANTY IT.

NHTSA complaint #10098702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

I FEEL BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.I APPLY BRAKES BUT MY FOOT SOMETIMES HIT GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME,AND VISE-VERSA.

NHTSA complaint #10061849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

ACCORDING TO INTERNAL SALES BROCHURES AND ADVERTISEMENTS THE 2003 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST CAPABLE OFF ROAD JEEP EVER. MY JEEP HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, WHICH CONSISTS OF 2 BROKEN AXLES, FAULTY BRAKES, FAULTY PARKING BRAKE, FAULTY U-JOINT CLIPS, FAULTY WHEEL BEARING. AFTER PAYING THE DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN REALIZING THAT THEY FAILED TO REPLACE ANOTHER FAILED PART, CALLED TO ASK ABOUT A WORKAROUND UNTIL THE NEEDED PART CAME IN. THE ADVICE GIVEN WAS TO REMOVE THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT AND DRIVE WITHOUT IT. THIS CAUSED BRAKE AND WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE DEALER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST TOOK SOME TIME TO GET RESOLVED. FINALLY, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND VOIDED THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY. REASON FOR VOIDING THE WARRANTY WAS MISUSE/ABUSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED OFF-ROAD AND HAD MUD ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MARKET A VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD AND THEN VOID THE WARRANTY IF IT IS USED IN THIS MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED, OR IN MUD/WATER DEEPER THEN THE HEIGHT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER. FURTHERMORE, JEEP CLAIMS I AM A MEMBER OF A 4WD CLUB THAT I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH AND CLAIMS A WITNESS SAW THE VEHICLE UNDER WATER. BOTH NOT TRUE. ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE DOT TO MAKE JEEP STAND BY IT'S WARRANTY, OR HAVE THEM NOT MARKET THE VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD SINCE IF USING IT OFF ROAD VOIDS THE WARRANTY THEN THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING.

NHTSA complaint #10041471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ACCORDING TO INTERNAL SALES BROCHURES AND ADVERTISEMENTS THE 2003 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST CAPABLE OFF ROAD JEEP EVER. MY JEEP HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, WHICH CONSISTS OF 2 BROKEN AXLES, FAULTY BRAKES, FAULTY PARKING BRAKE, FAULTY U-JOINT CLIPS, FAULTY WHEEL BEARING. AFTER PAYING THE DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN REALIZING THAT THEY FAILED TO REPLACE ANOTHER FAILED PART, CALLED TO ASK ABOUT A WORKAROUND UNTIL THE NEEDED PART CAME IN. THE ADVICE GIVEN WAS TO REMOVE THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT AND DRIVE WITHOUT IT. THIS CAUSED BRAKE AND WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE DEALER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST TOOK SOME TIME TO GET RESOLVED. FINALLY, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND VOIDED THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY. REASON FOR VOIDING THE WARRANTY WAS MISUSE/ABUSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED OFF-ROAD AND HAD MUD ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MARKET A VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD AND THEN VOID THE WARRANTY IF IT IS USED IN THIS MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED, OR IN MUD/WATER DEEPER THEN THE HEIGHT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER. FURTHERMORE, JEEP CLAIMS I AM A MEMBER OF A 4WD CLUB THAT I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH AND CLAIMS A WITNESS SAW THE VEHICLE UNDER WATER. BOTH NOT TRUE. ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE DOT TO MAKE JEEP STAND BY IT'S WARRANTY, OR HAVE THEM NOT MARKET THE VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD SINCE IF USING IT OFF ROAD VOIDS THE WARRANTY THEN THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING.

NHTSA complaint #10041471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10034391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.