Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 71 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.
The 25 most recent of 71, in the owner's own words
2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL AND WINDOW MOTOR REGULATOR ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. *SMD ALSO, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS BROKE, THE CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONED, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V054000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR, HEAT SENSOR, BRAKES AND TIRES. UPDATED 07/28/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V154000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V154000 (SERVICE BRAKES , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY (WHICH HAS A SMALL INCLINE) AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVE WAY, UNTIL PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND DIFFERENT PLACES, I.E WORK, GAS STATION, HOME, SCHOOL. THIS HAS NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT YET SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT EVERY TIME SO FAR. *TR
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT MY JEEP STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED, SURGED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK BOTH AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND AT STOP SIGNS, ALWAYS WHILE STOPPED. THE RPMS HAVE INCREASED TO BETWEEN 1,500 AND 4,500. THE JEEP DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT ON TUESDAY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED ON MY WAY HOME AND AGAIN WITH A MECHANIC IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK. TO DATE, THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS. WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT, TURNED RIGHT TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE. GAVE ACCELERATOR A SLIGHT PUSH TO GIVE CHEROKEE ENOUGH GAS TO MOVE INTO UPHILL PARKING STALL. QUICKLY MOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN CAR MOTOR REVVED, SPEED INCREASED AND FRONT END OF CAR HIT CONCRETE RETAINING WALL. BRAKING UNABLE TO STOP OR SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT. SECOND INCIDENT ON 11/12/2011 WITH APPROXIMATELY 78,000 MILES DRIVEN WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED THROUGH PARKING LOT, TURNING RIGHT TO DRIVE DOWN PARKING LANE, PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW EVEN MORE TO MOVE FURTHER TO RIGHT SIDE OF LANE TO AVOID ONCOMING CAR. WITH SIDE OF FOOT, FELT ACCELERATOR PEDAL DROP AWAY CAUSING MOTOR TO REV, SPEED TO INCREASE. LEFT FRONT BUMPER HIT LEFT FENDER OF ONCOMING CAR AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER HIT BACK BUMPER OF PARKED TRUCK. DESPITE PRESSING ON BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, CAR FAILED TO SLOW AND STOPPED ONLY ON IMPACT WITH TRUCK. ALMOST AS IF BRAKE WAS OVERRIDDEN BY ACCELERATION. TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES: COLD PRECIPITATING WEATHER; CAR HEATER ON; DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT; PAVEMENT WET; MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN; WITH BRAKING, CAR BEGINS ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY; ACCELERATION OVERRIDES BRAKE; BRAKE FAILS TO SLOW OR STOP CAR; CAR STOPS ONLY ON IMPACT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, IT BEGAN TO ROLL OUT OFF THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY AND ONTO A HILLSIDE FIELD. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED DOWN THE HILLSIDE AND INTO A LAKE, WHERE IT STRUCK SEVERAL LARGE ROCKS IN A SHALLOW PORTION OF THE WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM 20-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES UP AND DOWN, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRE TREADS WERE THINNING. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS KEEP ON WARPING, WE HAVE BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM, THEY WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN WARP. WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS BRAKING FEELS LIKE THEY SKIPPING, SOMETIMES SHAKING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RIDES ROUGHLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE MAKES A SNAPPING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES PULSATE. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE BRAKES, FRONT ROTORS, AND PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,470.
BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE. *AK
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON APRIL 3, 2006 AT 21,294 MILES. THE CONTACT EMPHASIZED THAT NEITHER WEATHER NOR SPEED WERE FACTORS IN THE BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIR WORK PERFORMED THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL CONCERNING BRAKE ROTORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. UPDATED 1/29/2007 - ALL FOUR ROTORS HAD WARPED. *NM
TL* - THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE CHEROKEE MODEL VEHICLES HAD FAILURES DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKES, AND THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLETO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT CHECKED. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8/11/06, AND THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WHICH CONFIRMED THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE OUT OF GROUND AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE. *AK
2003 GRAND CHEROKEE ENGINE OVER HEATED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. *TS THE COOLING FAN RELAY AND COOLING FAN MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE HOOD WOULD NOT STAY OPEN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOOD PROPS. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE PEDAL AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE TOO THIN TO BE FILED DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS A VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED *JB
I OWN A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED WITH 16,168 MILES. MY DRIVING PATTERN FOR THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN WITHIN DOWNTOWN CITY LIMITS AND CONNECTING FREEWAYS WHERE SPEEDS OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR ARE RARE DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION. ON A RECENT INTERSTATE TRIP WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH THEY PULSATED AND THE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A JEEP DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE CAR HAD WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH THE REPAIR I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR AT THEIR COST AS THE PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFFECTING 1999 THROUGH 2004 GRAND CHEROKEES. AFTER OVER AN HOUR ON THE, PHONE THEY AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT ROTORS AS A GOODWILL REPAIR ALBEIT WITH THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE ROTOR DESIGN. I LEARNED FROM THE DEALER SERVICE REP THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS IN ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND 1999 -2004 MODEL GRAND CHEROKEES. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A 100% FAILURE RATE. ANY ABNORMAL BRAKE OPERATION IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. STOPPING DISTANCE WILL BE INCREASED BY COMPROMISED INEFFICIENCY OF THE WARPED ROTOR AGAINST THE DISC. FROM A HUMAN FACTOR STANDPOINT THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED AT A CRITICAL POINT IN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. INSTINCT MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO EASE OFF THE BRAKES TO REDUCE THE VIBRATION THEREBY RISKING A COLLISION OR LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEER INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET FIX TO THE FACTORY ROTORS. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD ON THEIR OWN PROVIDED AN ENGINEERING CHANGE TO EXISTING REPLACEMENT ROTORS TO CORRECT THE HEAT PROBLEM AND IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH THE NHTSA SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. HAS THE MANUFACTURER FILED AN EARLY WARNING REPORT ON THE BRAKE PULSATION PROBLEM? *JB *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BRAKES VIBRATED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON NORMAL ROADS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRAKES AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. TURNED OUT THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE HAD FALLEN OFF ITS CONNECTION. *JB
ON 03-19-04 I TOOK MY JEEP FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING. ON 07-12-04 I MADE A RETURN VISIT BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING AGAIN. ON 04-13-05 I RETURN BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING AGAIN. THE THIRD TRIP TO SALERNO DUANE CAME NINE MONTHS LATER, ON APRIL 13, 2005 AT 22,731 MILES. AGAIN, SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE ROUGH AND WERE RESURFACED. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WORK WOULD BE COVERED BY A WARRANTY AS WELL, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY DUE TO PAST EXPERIENCE, MANAGER SAID SHE BELIEVED IT WOULD BE. WHEN I REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION AS PROOF TO THAT STATEMENT, SHE REFUSED. I THEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, A MR. G WHO WAS, LESS THAN PROFESSIONAL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, JUST PLAIN RUDE IS MORE ACCURATE. HE REFUSED TO WARRANTY THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE ON MY VEHICLE STATING THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SALERNO DUANE, BUT POSSIBLY A CHRYSLER DEFECT. AS OF APRIL 2006 I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OF MY BRAKES PULSATING. I PHONED SALERNO DUANE ON APRIL 5, 2006 AND SPOKE TO SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE INFORMED ME THE WORK WILL NOT BE WARRANTED AND I WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. BEING THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM I FEEL THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE THE CAR DEALER RESPONSIBILITY. I AM AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR I FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR OTHER MOTORIST AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS ONGOING AND UNSAFE PROBLEM. I HAVE RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATIONS FOR ALL THESE INCIDENTS. *JB
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BECAME WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 23000 MILES. THE ROTORS WARPED BECAUSE OF HEAT BUILD UP DURING BRAKING,AND THE DEALER REPLACED THEM WITH VENTED ROTORS TO AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE. PADS AND ALL OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE FINE. I HAVE LEARNED OF SEVERAL OTHER JEEP GR CHER OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I BELIEVE THAT A CAR OF THIS SIZE SHOULD HAVE HAD VENTED ROTORS INSTALLED AT THE TIME IT WAS ASSEMBLED. *NM
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. AT LOW SPEEDS USING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD PULSATE SLOWLY FORWARD WHILE REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE ESPECIALLY THE VIBRATIONS AND SHAKING AT HIGH SPEED BRAKING. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 19,000 (ROUGHLY) WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PADS. I ASKED WHY THEY ARE WARPED BEYOND SERVICEABILITY AND THEY STATED THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM. I WROTE TO DIAMLERCHRYSLER AS WELL TRYING TO GET SOME TYPE OF REFUND BACK AFTER SPENDING $550 ON THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMETHING THAT I FEEL WAS A QUALITY ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. THEY STATED ROTORS WARP DUE TO VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. I DISAGREE, IT IS POOR QUALITY MATERIALS BEING USED. THEY WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS OVER THIS. THE REASON I BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE WAS TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS FOR A FEW YEARS. *NM
TOUCHING THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSES SHAKING AND SHUDDERING OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DURING EMERGENCY STOPPING. BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 7500 MILES AND NOW NEED REPLACING AGAIN AT 30000. THE DEALER SAYS THAT ALL 2003 JEEPS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS POOR DESIGN OF THE FACTORY ROTORS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT EMERGENCY STOPPING AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FUNCTION IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS. JEEP SAYS THAT THIS IS JUST A NUISANCE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE?*JB
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ROTORS HAD WARPED UNEVENLY AND EXCESSIVELY. THE ROTORS REPLACED ON 4/21/05. *JB *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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