Adaptive Cruise Control Sensor 1) If you are replacing this part due to the cluster displaying Clean Radar Sensor in Front of Vehicle or DTC C1266 ACC Sensor Blinded, please verify that there is no blockage in front of the sensor. Blockage can occur from mud, ice, snow, front end damage, bracket damage, the sensor not attached to the bracket properly or an aftermarket fascia installed. This fault can occur intermittently in muddy or icy/snowy conditions and is considered normal operation. Under some circumstances, a misaligned sensor can also cause the C1266 DTC, please complete an alignment procedure. No replacement is required.~ 2) If you are replacing this part due to the cluster displayi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 67,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Grand Cherokee | 8 |
| 2010 Grand Cherokee | 4 |
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 21 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 16 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 16 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 59 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 23 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 10 |
4crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 16 cruise control complaints filed for the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Cruise control failures dominate these complaints. Multiple owners report the cruise control refusing to deactivate when they pressed the brake pedal at highway speeds, forcing them to shift to neutral or park to regain control. One driver had to use both feet on the brake while the engine raced; another's vehicle accelerated to 90+ mph uncontrollably and eventually smoke came from the engine—the fire department had to intervene. A third owner's vehicle surged across a field into a total loss when the cruise control re-engaged while parking.
Random cruise control engagement and disengagement while driving is also reported, along with unintended acceleration and deceleration. One owner had the issue addressed under warranty in 2017 but it recurred after the warranty expired.
Engine surge and throttle control lag appear as separate issues, with one owner experiencing accelerator delay and high RPM at only 8,000 miles; dealers couldn't diagnose or duplicate the failure.
Fuel system cuts to power have been reported twice, with one owner paying for fuel pump and sender replacement twice within 150 miles. A fuel relay recall is mentioned but apparently hasn't resolved the underlying problem.
Finally, one owner endured repeated brake booster and master cylinder failures following the P14 recall. The master cylinder leaked fluid into the booster multiple times, and after three repair cycles the dealer stated the problem would recur and posed a catastrophic brake failure hazard. Chrysler declined to help, citing warranty expiration.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control fails to disengage with brake pedal
Cruise control remains active even after brake pedal is depressed, preventing normal deceleration and forcing driver to use maximum brake force, shift to neutral, or park to stop the vehicle.
When: 55,000–78,000 miles; varies
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not turn off when brake is pressed; Vehicle continues to accelerate despite brake pedal input; Engine continues to rev at high RPM while brakes applied; Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light may appear; Smoke and burning odor reported in one incident
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose; one case required fire department intervention to shift to neutral; another vehicle deemed total loss by insurance after uncontrolled acceleration across field; fuel relay replaced in one case, but cruise control failure underlying cause remains unclear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall mentioned for cruise control in at least one narrative (Anchorage case); Chrysler advised owner to contact when failure recurs; no structured recall remedy documented in narratives
Cruise control engages unintentionally or randomly malfunctions
Cruise control turns itself on without driver input, randomly engages and disengages, or unexpectedly changes vehicle speed while driving.
When: Various; one owner noted recurring issue starting again in January 2019 after warranty repair in May 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not engage most of the time; Randomly turns off and on while in motion; Random deceleration and acceleration; Cruise control sometimes does not engage all the time; Engagement issues may occur after blinker use
Repairs/costs cited: One case reprogrammed by McClurg Chrysler Dodge Jeep (Perry, NY); failure recurred after dealer repair; another case addressed under warranty in May 2017 at Larry Miller of Boise but recurred after warranty expired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair performed at least once; post-warranty diagnosis and repair refused when issue recurred
Engine surge and loss of throttle control while parking or low-speed maneuvering
Engine RPM suddenly surges uncontrollably while vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, requiring extreme brake force or neutral shift to regain control.
When: Incidents reported; one at 8,000 miles with accelerator delay and high RPM
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM surges unexpectedly; Accelerator pedal delay followed by vehicle lunging forward; Vehicle slow to respond to brake input; Vehicle pulls to left and crosses center line; Vehicle continues to accelerate uncontrollably during low-speed parking
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnostic codes found; one case reprogrammed by dealer but failure recurred; another case unable to be duplicated by dealers and no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not contacted in some cases; no recall or TSB mentioned for this specific failure mode
Intermittent loss of power and fuel system failure
Vehicle suddenly loses engine power and response while driving, with repeated failures of fuel pump and sender assembly despite repair; fuel relay recall exists but no permanent resolution documented.
When: April 2017 and recurrence within 150 miles; approximately 70,000 miles in another case
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power while driving; Loss of engine response; Intermittent check engine light and electronic stability control light; Vehicle cannot accelerate beyond certain speed; Lights come and go intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump and sender replaced; fuel relay replaced per recall but permanent remedy not achieved; owner paid for same repair twice within 150 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel relay recall exists (mentioned in narratives) but appears to lack effective remedy; no permanent fix documented
Brake system failure and master cylinder leaks related to brake booster recall
Master cylinder leaks fluid into brake booster, causing sticky brakes, ABS/Forward Collision Warning/Traction Control lights, and repeated failures after multiple repair attempts; problem recurs within 1,000–3,000 miles of each repair.
When: Starting at 41,759 miles; last reported at 48,288 miles after multiple rounds of repair
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates; Forward Collision Warning (FCW) light illuminates; Traction control light illuminates; Brakes stick during operation; Cannot use cruise control; Brake fluid leaks into brake booster
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster recalled (Recall P14 IE); master cylinder replaced multiple times; brake booster replaced; same failure pattern repeated after each repair cycle; dealer stated repair would continue to fail and posed health hazard of catastrophic brake failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 05P14182 (brake booster shield) performed but did not resolve leaking master cylinder issue; Chrysler denied vehicle replacement because vehicle was already repaired; denied claim due to warranty expiration despite 5-year coverage; dealer advised problem was unfixable
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I merged off of the interstate, when trying to hurriedly slow down at stop sign I was not able to stop promptly, I then proceeded to slide into intersection, and was struck on driver's side by f-250. I had just received a recall the prior thursday on my alternator diodes, and it says possible effects on brake lock system. Current parts were not available for it to be resolved yet. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 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 cruise control problem on the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 25,596 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,596; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2013/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.