Owners of 2011 Grand Cherokees describe brake booster failures that range from intermittent stiffness to total loss of braking power. The pedal goes rock-hard, becomes unresponsive, or travels all the way to the floor with little to no stopping effect. Some report near-miss highway collisions at speeds of 55–70 mph when the booster suddenly fails. Cold weather triggers or worsens the problem—owners hear hissing sounds from under the dash when temperatures drop below freezing, and the issue resolves when it warms up, indicating water infiltration and vacuum seal failure inside the booster.
Chrysler issued Recall P14 (14V154000, later revised to 17V572000) that installs only a protective shield around the booster to prevent future water entry. Owners argue this is inadequate because water has already corroded boosters present before the shield was applied, and corrosion is an ongoing process. Many report booster failures months or years after the recall shield installation.
Availability remains the largest barrier: recall parts are on indefinite national backorder. Owners cite waiting 3–6+ months with no ETA, dealers claiming 650+ orders placed with no manufacturing underway, and Chrysler refusing interim solutions such as loaner cars or rental reimbursement. Some dealerships claim certain VINs are not assigned to the recall despite matching failure descriptions. One owner reported a dealership falsely claimed recall completion without performing work. When booster replacement is finally done, owners report labor costs around $700 and sometimes additional master-cylinder failure requiring replacement.
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster failure with loss of braking power
Power brake booster fails suddenly or gradually, causing complete or near-complete loss of braking assistance. The brake pedal goes rock-hard, becomes unresponsive, or requires extreme force to achieve partial braking. Owners report brake pedal travel to the floor with little to no stopping power, requiring emergency maneuvers to avoid collisions.
When: Typically 35,000 to 170,000 miles; failures occur in all seasons but exacerbated by subfreezing temperatures
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal extremely hard or unresponsive; Brake pedal goes all the way to floor with minimal braking effect; Complete loss of power-assisted braking (requiring both feet on pedal to stop); Audible hissing or air leak from under dash when pedal pressed; Brake light illuminates on dash; Brakes freeze up in cold weather (below 5°F); Slow stop or extended stopping distance; Sudden brake failure at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: Vacuum leak, Internal brake booster failure, Booster diaphragm failure, Water infiltration in booster
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement required; parts nationwide on backorder for extended periods (weeks to months with no ETA); labor roughly $700; some owners sourced salvage-yard units due to unavailability; master cylinder replacement also sometimes needed (~$500 for rear brakes alone)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P14 (NHTSA 14V154000) issued mid-2014 calling for a water-shield installation only; later revised recall 17V572000 still limits remedy to shield placement; Chrysler denies booster replacement coverage even after shield installation; parts remain unavailable under recall for extended periods; some dealers claim VINs not assigned to recalls despite identical failure modes; recall inadequate—shield does not address already-corroded boosters
Cold-temperature brake booster corrosion and vacuum seal failure
Brake booster experiences water infiltration and subsequent corrosion during subfreezing temperatures. The vacuum seal fails, allowing moisture to enter and freeze, leading to loss of vacuum assist and brake system malfunction. Issue appears only when temperatures drop significantly and is latent until cold exposure.
When: At subfreezing temperatures (below 5°F); issue may not manifest until prolonged cold weather or after booster sits idle in cold conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Hissing or air-leak sound from under dash when brake pedal pressed in cold weather; Symptom disappears when temperature rises above freezing; Brake light illuminates; Stiff brake pedal at cold startup; Reduced braking power during cold-weather drives; Intermittent brake failure only in winter
Codes mentioned: Water in brake booster, Booster vacuum leak, Failed vacuum seal
Repairs/costs cited: Booster replacement; water found inside defective booster during inspection; full brake system flush sometimes needed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler/Jeep initially refused to cover repairs outside warranty period (36 months); after NHTSA investigation, issued Recall P14 with protective shield only; shield does not reverse corrosion already present; owners must fight for booster replacement; warranty denials common for vehicles just over 36-month mark despite latent defect
Sudden brake failure after sitting idle
Brake booster fails to hold vacuum pressure when vehicle sits unused for 30 minutes or longer. Upon restart and initial braking, the pedal is rock-hard and unresponsive until pumped repeatedly (10-15 times). After warm-up, brakes function normally. Suggests vacuum loss in stationary condition.
When: After vehicle parked for 30+ minutes; failure in morning starts most common
Symptoms owners cite: Rock-hard brake pedal immediately after startup; No braking power until pedal pumped multiple times; Brake response improves after pumping; Normal braking once vehicle is driven briefly; Issue repeats every time vehicle sits idle; No brake warning light in many cases
Codes mentioned: Vacuum leak, Booster check valve failure, Brake booster seal failure
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement; part cost $200+ before installation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall specifically addresses this pattern; owners advised booster must be replaced; warranty typically does not cover out-of-service repairs
Brake pedal becomes soft or goes to floor mid-stop
Brake pedal loses firmness during normal braking or comes to complete loss of pressure (pedal travels all the way to floor) without warning. Vehicle continues rolling despite pedal depression. May follow recent brake service or occur spontaneously.
When: Can occur early in ownership (first few months) or after years of use; some cases follow brake pad/rotor replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Soft or spongy brake pedal; Brake pedal travels to floor; Loss of braking pressure mid-drive; Vehicle rolls after pedal fully depressed; Brake light on dash; Intermittent soft-pedal events
Codes mentioned: Master cylinder failure, Brake fluid leak, Air in brake lines
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement (~$500 for rear brakes); in some cases brake pads and rotors resurfaced but underlying booster/master cylinder issue missed on first visit; some owners paid out-of-pocket for repairs dealer claimed were warranty work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers often misdiagnose as warped rotors or worn pads (claiming vehicle sat on lot); warranty denials common; some owners had to return multiple times for correct diagnosis; Chrysler customer service unresponsive
Extended backorder and unavailability of recall parts
Brake booster parts required for recall repair are on indefinite national backorder with no estimated time of arrival. Owners report dealers unable to schedule recall work for weeks or months; one owner cited 650+ orders placed nationally with no manufacturing. Chrysler allegedly prioritizes new vehicle assembly over recall repairs.
When: 2014–2017+ timeframe; parts shortages lasted 3–6 months in many cases
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer unable to provide ETA for parts; Recall notice received but repair cannot be scheduled; Multiple dealer contacts yield same backorder status; VINs claimed not assigned to recall despite matching failure description; Dealers claim Chrysler is not manufacturing replacement parts; New vehicles reportedly receive parts before recall vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Waiting periods of 3–6+ months; some owners sourced parts from salvage yards or independent shops; Chrysler offered no interim solutions (loaner vehicles, rental reimbursement) in most cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued but parts unavailable; Chrysler stated owners must wait (follow-up every 4–5 days promised but rarely delivered); warranty loaners denied; reimbursement claims (within 60 days per recall notice) not honored in timely manner; one dealership allegedly fraudulently claimed recall completion without performing work; escalation requests resulted in no action
Recall P14 shield inadequate; booster still fails post-recall
Recall P14 installs a protective water shield around the booster to prevent future water infiltration and corrosion. However, vehicles that already had water damage or corrosion present at time of shield installation continue to experience brake booster failure months or years later, suggesting corrosion process was already advanced and shield does not remedy pre-existing damage.
When: Post-recall installation; failures occur 1–3+ years after shield applied
Symptoms owners cite: Booster fails after recall shield installed; Hissing sound indicating vacuum leak; Hard or unresponsive brake pedal; Loss of braking power; Booster corrosion found during inspection despite passing recall test
Codes mentioned: Booster corrosion (rust), Vacuum leak post-recall, Pre-existing water damage
Repairs/costs cited: Full booster replacement required; owner argues shield-only recall approach defies common sense and is unsafe; corrosion is an ongoing process that cannot be halted by external shield alone; master cylinder sometimes damaged as secondary consequence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P14 / 14V154000 / 17V572000 installs shield only; Chrysler refuses to replace booster as part of recall if booster passes electrical test at time of shield installation; owners argue this is inadequate and unsafe; recall notice understates severity (claims only increased pedal force in subfreezing conditions); warranty does not cover booster replacement if shield was already installed
Synthesized from 233 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.