Cruise Control Inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
6crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 23 cruise control complaints filed for the 2015 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 6 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.
Accelerator Pedal Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in service manual. Make sure to check wiring and connectors. P2122 and P2127 will set if accelerator pedal connector is disconnected during diagnosis. Make sure codes are active before replacing pedal. DTC P2299 is usually caused by a two footed driver and accelerator pedal should not be replaced for this fault.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Accelerator Pedal Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in service manual. Make sure to check wiring and connectors. P2122 and P2127 will set if accelerator pedal connector is disconnected during diagnosis. Make sure codes are active before replacing pedal. DTC P2299 is usually caused by a two footed driver and accelerator pedal should not be replaced for this fault.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Part Description: Accelerator Pedal Issue Description: Vehicle has accelerator pedal fault code. Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in service manual. Make sure to check wiring and connectors. DTC P2299 is usually caused by a two footed driver and accelerator pedal should not be replaced for this fault.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Complaints cluster around three dangerous patterns. First: unintended acceleration combined with brake failure. Multiple owners describe full-throttle acceleration occurring during parking, traffic, or after using cruise control—with brakes becoming unresponsive and emergency brakes failing. One owner accelerated to 90 mph in a construction zone, hit barriers and cones, and could not shut the vehicle off. Another accelerated at full throttle in a parking lot, dragging a cement barrier 20–25 feet. A third accelerated in a drive-through and struck the vehicle ahead.
Second: adaptive and autonomous braking systems trigger false stops without obstacles present, and cruise control disengages or behaves erratically on interstates. One owner had the forward collision warning activate twice with no vehicles near, then disabled the system entirely.
Third: electronic throttle lag. Owners report 2–5 second delays between pedal press and engine response, particularly at startup or when resuming cruise. This lag causes dangerous near-misses in intersections and lane merges, followed by sudden surges when throttle finally engages. One owner experienced a 15–20 second total delay while traveling.
Additional issues include shift paddle misuse triggering engine over-rev and limp mode, unwanted transmission downshifts dropping speed from 50 to 35 mph, engine revving and lurching when shifting from Reverse to Drive, and traction control activating to limit speed to 43 mph. Dealers often claim no fault found, and Chrysler blamed "customer error" in at least one case. NHTSA Campaign 16V529000 addresses some powertrain and recall parts have been unavailable.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration with Brake Failure
Vehicle accelerates at full throttle without driver input, particularly after using cruise control or shift paddles. Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or ineffective; owners report brakes to the floor with no stopping power. Parking brake also fails to arrest motion. Incidents occur in parking lots, highway construction zones, and traffic situations.
When: Occurs during low-speed maneuvers, parking, and highway driving; some incidents within 25K miles; varies by driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Full throttle acceleration without pedal input; Brake pedal unresponsive or insufficient stopping power; Emergency brake fails to slow or stop vehicle; Power steering intermittently lost during incident; Vehicle reaches dangerous speeds (up to 90 mph in one case); Driver unable to shift out of gear or turn vehicle off
Codes mentioned: CHECK ENGINE light, Electronic Throttle Control Indicator Light
Repairs/costs cited: One owner discovered holding start button for several seconds shuts engine off; dealers found no fault codes on investigation; Chrysler team investigated one case for 4 weeks and claimed no problem found; some owners suspect undisclosed repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V529000 (Powertrain) issued for acceleration hesitation; recall parts reportedly unavailable at time of complaints
Adaptive/Automatic Cruise Control Braking Failure
Adaptive cruise control disengages abnormally after engaging at low speed. Vehicle fails to stop when brakes applied following cruise control use. Also includes false activation of autonomous braking system and forward collision warning triggering without objects present.
When: Low-speed highway traffic; interstate driving; no specific mileage pattern identified
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control self-disengages abnormally; Brakes fail after cruise control disengagement; Automatic/autonomous braking activates without hazards present; Forward Collision Warning triggers with no objects on road; Sudden speed reduction in traffic; ABS activation during false braking events; DIC displays ACC/FCW system unavailable intermittently
Codes mentioned: Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system fault, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system fault
Repairs/costs cited: One owner disabled FCW system due to repeated false activations; no repair costs cited
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA ODI opened preliminary evaluation on 2014 model; nine complaints documented (VOQ: 10543837, 10713629, 10690650, 10663320, 10630362, 10596913, 10533622, 10533524, 10651269); issue reported in 2015 model year as well
Throttle Lag and Delay on Acceleration
Electronic throttle exhibits 2–5 second delay between pedal depression and engine response, particularly at cold start and when resuming from cruise control. Creates flat spots in acceleration, causing dangerous situations in traffic merging and intersection turns. Sporadic but recurring behavior.
When: Cold starts (3–5 seconds); warm operation (shorter but evident lag); variable occurrence during stop-and-go traffic and highway resume; one incident around 5 hours into drive at ~8 hours cumulative driving
Symptoms owners cite: 2–5 second delay before throttle engages; Flat spot acceleration hesitation in turns and merging; Unresponsive accelerator pedal for 15–20+ seconds in one extreme case; Surge after lag, causing jerky motion; Nearly caused collisions in intersection turns and lane changes; Dangerous in stop-and-go traffic
Codes mentioned: No codes mentioned in narratives
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported software update via UCONNECT website related to recent recall; issue persisted after update
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives; one dealer claimed unfamiliarity with problem
Shift Paddle and Cruise Control Malfunction
Shift paddle interaction with cruise control causes engine over-revving, triggering limp-mode operation and loss of vehicle power. When paddle used to downshift while in cruise control at highway speed, engine over-revs and shuts down, leaving driver coasting without power steering until restart.
When: Highway driving at 70 mph on cruise control; occurred in construction zone speed reduction situation
Symptoms owners cite: Engine over-revving when shift paddle pressed in cruise mode; Engine shuts down after over-rev; Loss of forward motion power; Vehicle enters limp mode; Shift paddle does not downshift to requested gear; Engine limps after restart with reduced power
Codes mentioned: Limp mode activation
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle returned to normal after engine restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Chrysler customer hotline (1-800-992-1997) blamed customer error; owner suggests software lockout or mechanical RPM limiter needed
Unwanted Transmission Downshift in Drive
Vehicle downshifts multiple gears on its own without driver input while in normal drive mode, suddenly reducing speed and limiting acceleration capacity. Occurs on freeway at highway speeds with driver still pressing accelerator.
When: Freeway driving; occurred more than twice during same trip
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts from 8th to 3rd gear without input; Speed drops from 50 mph to 35 mph unintentionally; Vehicle limited to 35 mph after downshift despite full throttle input; Condition repeats after parking and restarting
Codes mentioned: No codes mentioned in narratives
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Engine Revving and Lurching at Stop (Park-to-Drive Transition)
Engine revs to high RPMs and vehicle lunges or surges forward when shifting from Reverse to Drive or releasing brake from a complete stop, despite foot remaining on brake pedal. Occurs in parking and low-speed maneuvers.
When: Parking lot situations; parallel parking; low-speed maneuvering; some on snow/ice, some on dry surfaces
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to high RPMs while foot on brake; Vehicle lurches or surges forward unintentionally; Occurs during gear shifts (Reverse to Drive); Happens upon releasing brake after stop; Occurs with or without ice/snow; Driver cannot prevent forward motion despite full brake pressure
Codes mentioned: Electronic Throttle Control Indicator Light (when combined with Check Engine Light)
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair information provided
Cruise Control Unexpectedly Disengages
Cruise control turns off or disengages without driver input while driving on interstate at highway speed (above 60 mph). System shows intermittent availability issues.
When: Interstate highway driving above 60 mph; varying road and weather conditions; one instance under 25K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control disengages without cause; Intermittent cruise control operation; DIC messages indicating ACC/FCW unavailable; No obvious external trigger for disengagement
Codes mentioned: ACC/FCW system not available (DIC message)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V529000 applies to related cruise control issues; recall notice not received by some owners as of complaint filing
Traction Control Activation Limiting Performance
Traction control light illuminates during normal driving, changing vehicle performance behavior. Vehicle restricts maximum speed to approximately 43 mph and prevents normal acceleration when light is active.
When: During normal highway/freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control light comes on without cause; Vehicle speed limited to 43 mph maximum; Performance change after light activation; Remains in restricted mode
Codes mentioned: Traction Control light
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I was easing our 2015 Jeep grand cherokee into a parking spot at a trail head parking lot with my foot on the brake pedal. I fully engaged the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle accelerated at full throttle over the top of a 2.5 ft by 2.5 ft cement block parking barrier. It dragged the cement block about 20-25 ft. I continued to press the brake and after about 40 ft, the vehicle…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 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 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 25,000 and 44,000 miles, with the median around 33,270. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 44,000. 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/2015/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.