Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep grand cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v154000 (service brakes , service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 2/24/15*cn the consumer stated he has been on a…
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes problems
severe 209 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
209
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
15crashes
6injuries
What stands out
Of the 18 model years of Jeep Grand Cherokee we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 209.
Owners have filed 209 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A used 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with brake issues carries serious risk—the brake booster is prone to water intrusion and failure, especially in cold weather, and recall repairs (water shield installation) have not reliably prevented recurrence. Check for any unresolved recalls (P14, T59, V62), get a pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold-start brake test and booster vacuum check, and budget for a likely booster replacement regardless of prior service history.
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee brake failures break into two main patterns. First are acute booster failures where brakes abruptly lose assist or function entirely—pedal goes hard, goes to the floor with no stopping power, or produces hissing/air noise. These happen during cold weather, acceleration, or approach to traffic. Owners report near-accidents and crashes. Second are extended delays in recall service: owners waited 7–12 months for parts (P14/NHTSA 14V-154 water shield; T59/NHTSA 17V-572 booster shield), while being told the vehicle was safe to drive. Dealers were understaffed, parts on national backorder, and some offered no loaner cars. A third pattern emerged: repeat failures after recall work. One owner's booster hummed (vacuum loss) despite prior service; another had brake booster replaced twice. One failed vacuum test suggests the recall procedure itself—inspection and shield installation—did not always catch or prevent corrosion and moisture intrusion in the booster. Owners also describe cold-weather sensitivity: hard pedal, reduced braking in freezing conditions. Some pedal behavior varied with temperature, making diagnostics difficult when shops tested in warmer weather. One owner reported internal rust buildup in the booster despite a closed system, and dealers struggled to find codes or reproduce failures. The recall directive appears to have been inspecting a water shield rather than replacing faulty boosters outright.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster vacuum loss and complete loss of braking assist
Brake booster fails to provide vacuum assist, resulting in hard, non-responsive pedal or complete absence of braking function. Owners report pedal goes to floor, requires extreme force to engage, or produces no stopping power. Associated with water intrusion and corrosion inside the booster.
When: Various mileages; cold weather and after extended periods parked; some failures within 1 year of recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive; Brake pedal travels all the way to floor with no stopping effect; Hissing or air-release noise from under vehicle when brakes applied; Audible humming when vehicle idling (vacuum loss); Complete loss of braking capability; Brake warning light illuminated; Reduced or prolonged stopping distance; Brakes function normally in warm temperatures but fail in cold
Codes mentioned: C0021-02 (Brake Booster - General Signal Failure), Brake warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement; brake master cylinder replacement; vacuum hose replacement. Owner reports $705.37 for booster and master cylinder. Some owners had booster replaced twice. Recall P14/NHTSA 14V-154 specified water shield installation; T59/NHTSA 17V-572 also specified shield and vacuum test, but many boosters were not replaced when they should have been.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P14/NHTSA 14V-154 (water shield over brake booster); Recall T59/NHTSA 17V-572 (water shield and vacuum test). Chrysler advised some owners vehicle was safe to drive pending parts availability. One owner reported Chrysler stated the condition was a 'characteristic' of the Pentastar 6-cylinder engine under low-vacuum conditions and vehicle was 'working as intended.' Extended warranty coverage (5 years/50,000 miles additional) offered for some cylinder head issues but not consistently applied to booster failures. Recall parts were on national backorder for 7–12 months; dealers received limited quantities.
Cold-weather brake failure and ice formation
Brake system failure triggered or exacerbated by freezing temperatures. Water entering the booster (due to faulty water shield or inadequate seal design) freezes, causing pedal hardness, loss of assist, and inability to stop. Failures resolve or improve when temperature rises.
When: Winter; temperatures below freezing; after vehicle parked overnight in cold
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes extremely hard and requires extreme force to depress; Brakes do not respond or respond very slowly in cold weather; Pedal goes to floor without stopping power; Brakes function normally once temperature rises above freezing; Condition repeats with each cold-weather spell
Repairs/costs cited: Booster replacement; one owner noted rust buildup inside booster, indicating moisture intrusion. Recall service (water shield installation) did not prevent water/ice formation in all cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall T59/NHTSA 17V-572 (water shield). Service managers acknowledged the problem was known. One dealer stated parts were on national backorder due to 'extremely high volume of parts failures in both Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango trucks.' Owners reported being told the vehicle was safe to drive despite active symptoms.
Brake booster failure after recall service completion
Brake booster fails or exhibits the same symptoms (hard pedal, loss of assist, vacuum loss) within months to 1 year after completing P14 or T59 recall work (water shield installation). Some boosters required replacement a second time, suggesting the initial repair was incomplete or ineffective.
When: Within 1 year after P14/T59 recall work performed
Symptoms owners cite: Audible humming or hissing when brakes applied; Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive; Brake warning light illuminated; Loss of braking assist; Intermittent brake failure
Codes mentioned: C0021-02 (Brake Booster - General Signal Failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Second booster replacement required in some cases. One owner's recall service (12/22/2017) was followed within a year by intermittent brake booster failure with code C0021-02. Another owner had booster replaced for corrosion after prior recall work. Recall repair procedure (shield installation and inspection) may not have included vacuum testing or booster replacement when needed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P14/NHTSA 14V-154; Recall T59/NHTSA 17V-572. Dealer stated one customer was out of warranty despite booster failure following recall work and refused coverage. Owners reported feeling that the recall repair did not adequately address the underlying defect.
Extended recall service delays and parts shortage
Brake booster water shield and related recall parts were on national backorder for 7–12 months after recall notices issued. Dealerships received parts in very limited quantities (one per week or a few at a time) despite dozens or hundreds of customers awaiting repair. Manufacturers and dealers did not provide loaner vehicles or rental reimbursement, leaving owners driving unsafe vehicles.
When: 2014–2015 (peak backorder period for P14); some delays continued into 2017–2019
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable at dealership upon request; Months-long waiting lists (100+ customers at some locations); No estimated delivery date provided; Parts receiving extremely slowly (one per week; a couple at a time)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed during backorder period. Owners continued driving with active brake symptoms (hard pedal, humming, reduced assist). Some owners paid out-of-pocket for rental vehicles; others drove unsafe vehicles or could not access work/school.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P14/NHTSA 14V-154 issued ~May–June 2014; T59/NHTSA 17V-572 issued ~2017. Chrysler and dealers stated vehicle was safe to drive pending parts. No manufacturer-funded loaner or rental car program was consistently offered. Chrysler customer service representatives denied requests for rental reimbursement or alternative transportation. One owner reported Stellantis customer service disconnected the call without facilitating proper dealership referral. Dealerships cited being understaffed and in training; some refused to accept recall appointments and operated first-come, first-served with no clear timeline.
Brake pedal resistance and slow stopping distance
Brake pedal feels hard or requires excessive force to depress; vehicle takes longer than normal to stop or does not stop with expected responsiveness. May occur during certain driving conditions (acceleration, uphill, low engine vacuum) or after extended storage.
When: During acceleration or throttle load; cold starts; after parking for extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal feels hard and resists depression; Vehicle does not respond immediately to brake pedal pressure; Increased stopping distance; Brakes may fail to lock wheels even with full pedal pressure; Condition may be intermittent or reproducible under specific conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster vacuum hose replacement attempted in at least one case but did not fully resolve the issue. Chrysler stated the condition was a 'characteristic' of the Pentastar 6-cylinder engine under low-vacuum conditions due to engine design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler acknowledged the condition in Pentastar 6-cylinder vehicles and stated it was a known 'characteristic' with low vacuum brake boost under certain conditions, claiming the 'vehicle is working as intended.' No design change or mandatory repair was offered; owners were advised condition was acceptable.
Synthesized from 209 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v391000 (electrical system) and 14v154000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the delay. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 3/4/15*cn updated…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep grand cherokee. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v154000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep grand cherokee. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v154000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
Had brakes trouble with your 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 209 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 94 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 29,500 and 74,000 miles, with the median around 48,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,500; a quarter make it past 74,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Jeep/Grand Cherokee.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.