Low Frequency Moan Heard During First Brake Apply This bulletin involves installing an anti-vibration bracket to the rear brake caliper. A low frequency moan is heard during the first brake apply when in reverse while the vehicle is cold or has been parked for several hours. An audio sound file of the moan can be found in DealerCONNECT> TechCONNECT under: Service Info> 05 - Brakes> 05 - Brakes, Base> Diagnosis and Testing. If the low frequency moan can be verified, the addition of the anti-vibration bracket may correct the condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Jeep Patriot brakes problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Jeep Patriot we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 13.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Low Frequency Moan Noise Heard During First Brake Apply This bulletin involves installing an anti-vibration bracket to the rear brake caliper. A low frequency moan noise is heard during the first brake apply when in reverse, while the vehicle is cold or has been parked for several hours.An audio sound file of the moan noise can be found in DealerCONNECT> TechCONNECT under: Service Info> 05 - Brakes> 05 - Brakes, Base> Diagnosis and Testing.If the low frequency moan noise can be verified, the addition of the anti-vibration bracket may correct the condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Low Frequency Moan Noise Heard During First Brake Apply This bulletin involves installing an anti-vibration bracket to the rear brake caliper. A low frequency moan noise is heard during the first brake apply when in reverse, while the vehicle is cold or has been parked for several hours. An audio sound file of the moan noise can be found in DealerCONNECT> TechCONNECT under: Service Info> 05 - Brakes> 05 - Brakes, Base> Diagnosis and Testing. If the low frequency moan noise can be verified, the addition of the anti-vibration bracket may correct the condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe brake system troubles across multiple failure modes. The most severe complaint involves the brakes electronically disengaging during gentle braking, causing unintended acceleration—at 55–60 mph, this lasted 1.5 seconds while the pedal remained firm and additional pressure proved useless. That owner reports the issue occurs every drive and came from the factory at 470 miles.
Rear drum brake squealing appears endemic; multiple owners report squealing during reverse and light braking despite inspection and cleaning. Dealership service initially denied any defect, later admitting they received many complaints and that Jeep corporate is aware but has no announced fix.
Several owners describe spongy or unstable pedal feel on bumpy roads—the brake pedal feels like pushing through ground, forcing drivers to release and reapply on flat sections. This affects both manual and automatic Patriot models and starts from purchase.
Additional complaints include rear brake grinding and excessive rotor heat at 97,000 miles, severe lockup causing rotors to turn bright red with burning smell, and uneven wear (left side only) requiring pad and rotor replacement as early as 12,000 miles. Cold-start squealing and screeching that worsens in rain round out the pattern. One owner's ABS light and brake assist failed after water exposure, with the dealership unable to resolve it after two weeks.
Failure modes owners describe
Brake failure with unintended acceleration during gentle braking
Brakes electronically disengage briefly during gentle braking application, causing the vehicle to accelerate instead of decelerate. Brake pedal remains firm during these episodes, and additional pressure does not stop acceleration. Failures last quarter-second at lower speeds, up to 1.5 seconds at highway speeds (55-60 mph). Owner reports this occurs every time the vehicle is driven, with very close call to collision.
When: Starting at ~470 miles on odometer, recurring from week 1 of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal remains firm and solid despite loss of braking; Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal pressed during failure episodes; Failure duration increases with vehicle speed; Multiple failures within short timeframe during single driving session
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; manufacturer identified transmission software as root cause and stated rewriting could take up to one year
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer determined transmission software is the problem; extended timeline of up to one year for software rewrite
Rear drum brake squealing on reverse and light braking
Rear drum brakes emit squealing or squeaking noise when backing up and sometimes during forward braking. Firestone cleaned and inspected drums and found them in good condition. Jeep dealership service confirmed no parts needed replacement or repair, stating squealing is normal for drum brakes. Service technician later reported receiving multiple complaints on this issue and confirmed Jeep corporate is aware.
When: Ongoing since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Squealing noise when backing up; Squealing during forward braking; Noise persists after cleaning and inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Cleaned and inspected by Firestone; no parts replaced or repaired. Jeep dealership found no defects requiring repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep service stated squealing is normal for drum brakes; technician confirmed multiple complaints received and Jeep corporate is aware, but no fix plans communicated
Spongy brake pedal on rough road surfaces
When braking on bumpy or uneven road surfaces, brake pedal feels spongy or as if pushing through ground, resulting in loss of braking effectiveness. Driver must release pedal, wait for flat ground, then reapply brakes. Occurs during both gentle and abrupt braking on freeway and residential streets. Affects both manual and automatic transmission models. Issue present since purchase.
When: Since purchase, recurring on uneven road surfaces
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal feels like pushing through ground on rough surfaces; Loss of braking effectiveness on bumpy roads; Occurs during both gentle and hard braking; Requires driver to release pedal and reapply on flat ground
Rear brake grinding and overheating
Grinding noise audible from rear wheels with rear rotors extremely hot to touch. Rear brake pads were replaced at dealership to address the issue.
When: At approximately 97,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from rear wheels; Rear rotors extremely hot; Noise present during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake pads replaced at Dick Poe Chrysler/Jeep (El Paso, TX)
Brake screeching noise, worse in rain, difficult stopping
Brakes emit loud screeching sound and braking becomes difficult. Problems worsen during rain. Dealership attributed noise to dust on brakes, but noise persisted after cleaning.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loud screeching sound; Difficult stopping sometimes; Noise worsens in rain conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership cleaned brakes attributing noise to dust; noise did not stop
Cold-start brake squeal
Brakes squeal when brake pedal is first applied after cold start. Issue noted at low mileage (1,600 miles) and appears limited to this scenario.
When: Cold start conditions, at ~1,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake squeal on cold start application; No other reported problems
ABS light activation and brake assist loss after water exposure
After driving through standing water on road, ABS brake light illuminated and remained on. Brake assist function ceased working. Dealership kept vehicle for two weeks investigating without resolution mentioned.
When: After driving through standing water; vehicle held for two weeks for diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: ABS brake light on and remaining illuminated; Brake assist no longer functional
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosis in progress for two weeks
Brake lockup with excessive heat and rotor damage
Brakes lock up severely, causing vehicle to feel like it is in a lower gear and pulling backward during acceleration. Rotors turn bright red from excessive heat and produce burning smell.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lockup sensation similar to lower gear engagement; Vehicle pulling back during acceleration; Rotor turns bright red; Burning smell from brakes
Premature left-side brake wear
Left-side rear brake rotor and pads required replacement while right-side remained in very good condition. Every bump caused left pad to rub and stick to rotor.
When: At 12,000 miles; another complaint at 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Uneven brake wear (left side only); Pad rubbing and sticking to rotor on bumps; Left rotor severely chewed up
Repairs/costs cited: Left rear rotor and pads replaced; right side remained in good condition
Loud brake noise on reverse, cold start
Loud noise occurs when backing up on first drive of the day. Vehicle purchased with 33,000 miles.
When: Cold start backup, 33,000 miles on purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise when backing up on cold start
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 Jeep Patriot?
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 2014 Jeep Patriot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 35,087 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2014/Jeep/Patriot.
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.