RoadVitals

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
173
Latest Aug 12, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 991 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
14
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 173 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 173, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 12, 2019

ECM HAS A FAULT CIRCUIT BOARD PER DEALER AND NEEDS REPLACING . CAUSES COMPLETER POWER FAILURE AND ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING , ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OUT -- NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS -- AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME , STOPPED OR ON THE ROAD .

NHTSA ID
11243393
Incident
Aug 12, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 17, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE), THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRE AND RIM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,501.

NHTSA ID
10764610
Incident
Sep 15, 2015
Mileage
141,501 mi
BrakesFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 23, 2014
Crash reported

JEEP WOULD STOP COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, WOULD JUST PICK UP SPEED AT RANDOM WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT.TROUBLE WITH SIGNAL LIGHTS,VISIBILITY AT NIGHT NOT GOOD, SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS,ALSO 1 DAY IT WOULD START, NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL,IT'S BEEN 10 MONTHS PLEASE HELP,IM AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH MY GRAND-CHILDREN. JEEP NOT STARTING HEARD SIZZLING SOUND THEN EVERYTHING STOP COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574226
Incident
Jul 24, 2013
Mileage
102,908 mi
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EIGHT TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. RECENTLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CORE WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, HOSES, CAPS, AND ROTOR DISTRIBUTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION;LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10255229
Incident
Mar 18, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT SNOWED AND THE ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE. THIS OCCURRED SINCE THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT T DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE ABS SENSOR GOT SNOWED ON THE SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 20 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10181793
Incident
Feb 5, 2007
Mileage
105,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 24, 2007

TOOK JEEP TO DEALER ON JAN 22 07 FOR ABS LIGHT CHECK. WAS NOTIFIED MY DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM RECALL BO2. DEALER SERVICED DETENT RECALL MALFUNCTION. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT GO DOWN TO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, IT WAS BEING BLOCKED BY AN INTERNAL OBSTACLE UNDER THE SHIFT COUNCIL. TOOK CAR IN NEXT DAY AROUND 11:30 AM AND SERVICE WRITER WANTED TO KEEP CAR OVERNIGHT. SET APPOINTMENT WITH HIM TO BRING IT IN NEXT DAY JAN 24 07. DEALER ADVISED ME THAT MY SHIFTING BEZEL WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $95.00. I ADVISED DEALER THAT SHIFTER WORKED FINE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO FIX WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY BROKE. DEALER REPLIED THAT IT WAS BROKE BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN AND WORKING ON THE COUNCIL CAUSED THINGS TO SHIFT AND THUS CAUSED THE OBSTACLE. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF I HAD NOT BROUGHT IN MY CAR THAT IT WOULD STILL BE WORKING FINE., DEALER AGREED WITH ME BUT WANTS $95.00 TO FIX IT.,.I DECLINED THE OFFER. TOOK CAR HOME AND REMOVED SHIFTING COUNCIL TO FIND THAT RED SHIFT MARKER WAS NO LONGER CENTERED AROUND THE SHIFT LEVER AND A RUBBER WASHER WAS NO LONGER CENTERED AROUND THE SHIFTER. PULLING THE SHIFTER BACK TOWARDS DRIVE CAUSED THE SHIFTER TO BE STUCK AT DRIVE BECAUSE THE RED SHIFT MARKER BEZEL WOULD NOT ALLOW SHIFTER TO GO ANY FURTHER AND THUS BLOCKED SHIFTER FROM GOING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEARS. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION THE SHIFTER WOULD POP INTO NEUTRAL WHEN A ROAD BUMP WAS HIT AND THUS I WOULD LOOSE POWER, THUS AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. UPON PICKING MY CAR UP ON JAN 22 07 AROUND 5 PM I WAS NOT ADVISED THAT MY SHIFTER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR THAT I WAS DRIVING OFF IN A VEHICLE THAT NOW HAD AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10180615
Incident
Jan 22, 2007
Mileage
235,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 17, 2007

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4WD 6 CYLINDER MILEAGE: 64,600 - ABS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING (ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $1800), 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4WD 6 CYLINDER MILEAGE: 64,600 - COMPLETE FAILURE OF DRIVE TRAIN (TRANSMISSION), BEING REPAIR AT A COST OF $2550.55. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178960
Incident
Jan 11, 2007
Mileage
64,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Oct 2, 2006
Crash reported

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF SERVICE FOR MY JEEP CHEROKEE. THERE IS ARE A COUPLE OF RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. ONE IS THE B02 AND THE OTHER IS THE 879. I HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THEM FIXED AT THE SMITHTOWN AND BAYSHORE DEALERSHIPS AND EACH APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. I CANNOT TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE CAR ROLLS OUT OF GEAR WHEN IT IS IN PARK (B02 RECALL). SO THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE MECHANICS WILL NOT BRING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE ONE TIME SOMEONE ALLOWED IT INTO THE SHOP IT ROLLED OUT OF GEAR AND ALMOST RAN THE MECHANICS OVER. LETS JUST SAY WE ARE NOT ON GOOD TERMS BECAUSE OF THIS. PARTS ARE WORN OUT. BUT UNTIL THIS ROLL OUT OF PARK ISSUE IS TAKEN CARE OF NO ONE WILL SEE THE CAR. AGAIN I MADE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS TO SEE CHRYSLER DEALER BUT THEY KEEP CANCELING MY APPOINTMENTS. I WANT TO BE PAID FOR THE PARTS THAT ARE WEARING OUT AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO NO MECHANIC WILL SEE THE CAR. AND I WANT THE DEALERSHIPS IN SMITHTOWN AND BAYSHORE REPORTED FOR CANCELING APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN ADVANCE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169781
Incident
Aug 10, 2006
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 14, 2005

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM LANSDALE CHRYSLER JEEP IN OCTOBER OF 2002. WITHIN 1 WEEK, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE ABS UNIT HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. I SUBMITTED A HAND WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THEM THAT THE CAR WAS "CERTIFIED" AND NOTHING SHOULD FAIL WITHIN A WEEK. THE ABS WAS REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME. THREE YEARS LATER THE ABS UNIT HAS FAILED AGAIN! ESTIMATE CHARGE FOR REPAIR IS $1,200 DOLLARS. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 1993-1998 GRAND CHEROKEE'S. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: AUTOS.MSN.COM CITES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ABS UNIT TO FAIL. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ABS UNIT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW DOES A $1,000 PART FAIL TWICE?!? *JB

NHTSA ID
10145190
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
Mileage
91,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Oct 13, 2005

CONSUMER NOTICED A CHIRPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS THAT DISAPPEARED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *TS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRING TO. THE CONSUMER HAD A LIST OF PROBLEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE: ROTORS AND PADS FRONT AND REAR, EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES, WIPER BLADES, MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE, OIL DIP DIP STICK, RIGHT AXLE BOOT,EMERGENCY BRAKE PIVOT, THE BACK GLASS NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY CUSTOMER SERVICE THERE WERE 2 OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM SHE WAS DESCRIBING SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS RELATED TO ONE OF THE RECALLS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140983
Incident
Jul 12, 2005
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Sep 9, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWICE THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAD TO BE PUT BACK ON. IT HAD A DEFECT IN THE BODY FRAME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 4-04, THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN 4-05. CURRENTLY, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. A MONTH AGO, ALL OF THE PADS ON FRONT AND REAR WERE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AGO, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE CONTROL UNIT MODULE AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,300.00. *AK

NHTSA ID
10136025
Incident
Sep 6, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 8, 2005

THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN THROTTLING WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK WHEN TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IT MAKES THE ENGINE THROTTLE UP AND STAY AT ACCELERATED SPEED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TAKES HIS FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN UNTIL YOU TURN ON THE HEAT OR AIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN YOU START FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITH THE FAN ON, AFTER YOU ATTAINED THE SPEED YOU WANT AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATORTHE SPEED AND RPM WILL STAY THE SAME AND WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE FAN OFF AT A COMPLETE STOP IN NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. UNDER HEAVY BRAKING THE BRAKES HAD A BAD PULSATION WHICH CAUSED THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON. RADIO AND SPEAKERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TC

NHTSA ID
10107092
Incident
Jan 10, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 2004

THE ROTORS WARPED. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS MALE/MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO THE ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY, THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING, AND THE REAR BRAKE PAD WERE METAL TO METAL. *SC

NHTSA ID
10095184
Incident
Oct 5, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2004

ABS LIGHT IN THE DASH HAS LIT SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *LA THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVERY 3 TO 4 DAYS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10063451
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PAINT ON VEHICLE APPEARS BUBBLY. POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING-REPLACED MOTOR REAR END HAS NOISE LIKE A ROAR-DIAGNOSED WITH BAD REAR END TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD-DIAGNOSED AS BAD BRAKES GROWLING-

NHTSA ID
10069983
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2004

FRONT BRAKE DISC UNEVEN WEAR, BRAKING NOT SMOOTH, VIBRATES UNCONTROLABLY.

NHTSA ID
10069565
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE WHEELS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10054040
Incident
Dec 23, 2003
Mileage
26,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2003

THE ROTORS ON MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE CONSISTENTLY WARP AFTER 6,000 TO 10,000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND HAVE ALSO WORKED ON MANY AND HAVE NEVER WITNESSED SUCH SHORT LIVING ROTORS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10046798
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2003

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT HAS NOT FOUND A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

NHTSA ID
10039919
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2003

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL 00V136000 REPAIRS CONCERNING FRONT BRAKE ROTORS IN 2001. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS. ALSO FOUND THAT REAR ROTORS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THEM. AT 18,000 MILES LATER, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE PULSATING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034050
Mileage
56,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2003

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS IN WHICH THEY WERE REPLACED, THEN SIX MONTHS LATER RECEIVED A LETTER OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM, SO THE CONSUMER FORWARDED THE BILL TO CHRYSLER AND HASN'T BEEN REIMBURSED. THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED COMPENSATION FOR REPAIR COST. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10024088
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WHICH RESULTED IN NO BRAKES, CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER HAD TO CRASH INTO A HOUSE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011936
Mileage
82,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER HAD TO CRASH INTO A HOUSE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011935
Mileage
82,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CRASH INTO A HOUSE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011927
Mileage
82,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 26, 2003

THE ROTORS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID
10007269
Incident
Jan 7, 2003

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .