Decreased Remote Start And RKE Range. Tire Pressure Sensors Values Are Not Displayed
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 100 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 139 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 20 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 12 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 14 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 45 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 86 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 4 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 16 |
2crashes
2injuries
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.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance, and/or P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance, and/or P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗(Rev. B) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low and/or P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗(Rev. B) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low and/or P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a range of brake-system failures across this cluster. Several report park assist (rear and front) engaging and locking, then refusing to turn off—a critical problem for towing, with one owner finding dealer service bulletins and reflash procedures already exist but weren't offered. Others experienced rear brakes suddenly locking mid-drive on various road types and speeds with no warning light, even after dealerships replaced all rear brake components and modules; one owner had the vehicle in the shop 53 of 63 days of ownership with the problem recurring each time.
Electric parking brake failures forced vehicles to roll backward while in Park with no warning, including one that rolled backward multiple times in one day and another that collided with equipment. One owner reported a missing retainer clip on the brake pedal assembly at factory, completely disconnecting the pedal from the booster. Others cite brake pressure loss during reversing maneuvers, ABS warning lights during braking in wet conditions that may have contributed to an accident, and unintended emergency braking activation on the freeway. Premature brake pad wear at 23,000 miles occurred with no wear warning system. Across these narratives, dealership responses have been inconsistent—some claiming no knowledge of issues, others offering repairs that failed to resolve problems, and FCA communication described as contradictory with cases closed without documented findings.
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Park Assist Braking Malfunction—Unable to Disable
Rear and/or front park assist braking engages and cannot be turned off via dashboard button or infotainment settings. Feature locks on and resets itself when owner attempts to disable it. Triggered by towing or backing with trailer attached. Creates dangerous loss of control when reversing.
When: During towing/reversing maneuvers; onset variable after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Rear park assist brakes jam on without ability to disengage; Dashboard button light cycles on/off but does not disable function; Infotainment checkbox unchecks momentarily then re-checks automatically; Front park assist also cannot be disabled once triggered; Vehicle cannot reverse safely with trailer attached
Repairs/costs cited: Software update/reflash of park assist module reported in owner forums and dealer service bulletins; some dealers reluctant to perform reflash without specific complaint flagged in system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA US Customer Service initially claimed no knowledge of issue; service bulletins and reflash procedures exist but not widely promoted; yellow-arrow status on reflash limits dealer authorization
Unintended Brake Engagement—Rear Brakes Lock Without Warning
Rear brakes suddenly engage and lock up while vehicle is in motion on various road types and speeds, with no user input or warning lights. Wheels become extremely hot. Occurs randomly and repeatedly even after dealer replacement of all rear brake components and module installation.
When: 18 days after purchase; recurred after multiple dealer repairs over 9 weeks of ownership; mid-drive at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle feels like emergency brake or something is dragging; Rear wheels become red-hot; water sizzles on contact; No brake warning light illuminates; Brakes lock without hard braking trigger or warning; Occurs on different road types at different speeds; Recurs even after full rear brake replacement and module installation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced all rear brake components and waited one month for module installation; problem persisted after each repair cycle; vehicle spent 53 of 63 days in shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claimed 'fixed' multiple times without resolution; no root cause identified despite repeated service attempts
Electric Parking Brake Failure—Vehicle Rolls Away in Park
Vehicle rolls backward on inclined driveway while in Park and electric parking brake engaged, with no warning lights or diagnostic codes. Occurs suddenly and unpredictably. Owner forced to park in snowbank for two weeks as safety workaround. Dealer inspection found no mechanical or electronic faults, could not recreate condition, and closed safety case without resolution.
When: Occurred three times in one day; happens randomly when parked on incline; unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward 3–4 feet despite Park engagement and EPB engaged; No warning lights illuminate; Occurs suddenly with no trigger; happens randomly; Brake shoe thickness measured at 4mm (within spec); EPB software verified current
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no mechanical or electronic faults; brake shoes at 4mm; no diagnostic codes present
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA investigation inconclusive; case closed by manufacturer despite unresolved defect; no written documentation of findings provided; communication inconsistent and contradictory; dealer and FCA disagreed on case status
Complete Brake Pedal Disconnection
Brake pedal assembly disconnects from brake booster plunger rod while vehicle is in motion, completely disabling brakes. Retainer clip holding pedal to plunger rod was never installed at factory. No prior service work performed on brake pedal assembly.
When: Low-speed drive-thru maneuver; fortunately vehicle rolled to stop in parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal disconnects from booster plunger rod; Complete loss of braking ability; Retainer clip missing and not located anywhere in vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Factory assembly defect; retainer clip was not installed or not installed correctly
ABS Warning Light and Delayed Brake Response
ABS warning light activates during braking event. Owner reports delayed brake response in wet conditions contributing to accident. Vehicle skidded despite attempted braking during rain, resulting in collision and vehicle total loss.
When: During rain; high-speed freeway braking scenario
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates during braking event; Delayed brake response in wet conditions; Vehicle skids despite brake input; Poor brake performance on freeway at 60 mph while slowing
Emergency Braking Feature Engages Unintentionally
Automatic emergency braking system activates without driver input or imminent collision during highway driving while approaching slow vehicle ahead. Feature engages unexpectedly during normal driving maneuver.
When: Freeway driving at 60 mph approaching turning car; occurred twice within one week
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency braking system engages without collision threat; Unintended hard braking during normal deceleration; Multiple occurrences within short timeframe
Vehicle Rollaway While Stationary in Park
Vehicle rolls backward from stationary Park position without parking brake engaged. One instance resulted in collision with towed equipment. Occurs randomly, especially on inclines.
When: While stationary in Park on driveway; random timing
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward several feet while in Park; No parking brake engaged; Occurs suddenly with no warning; Happens randomly on inclined surfaces
Brake Pressure Loss During Reversing
Brake pedal loses pressure while reversing into or out of parking spots. Pedal requires forcing all the way down to achieve stopping, accompanied by loud grinding noise. Occurs on multiple occasions.
When: During low-speed reversing maneuvers; 3 separate occasions; once during wet pavement
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of brake pressure while reversing; Pedal requires excessive force to stop vehicle; Loud grinding noise during braking; Occurs during both reverse-in and reverse-out parking maneuvers
Premature Brake Pad and Rotor Wear
Front brake pads and rotors worn to replacement point at 23,000 miles despite normal inspection at 17,000 miles showing acceptable condition. No brake wear warning system alerts owner; discovery made only at subsequent inspection.
When: 23,000 miles; wear occurred between 17,000 and 23,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front brake pads and rotors worn out requiring replacement; Rapid wear over 6,000-mile interval; No warning light or alert system for brake pad wear; Tire wear normal; not a contributing factor to brake wear
Repairs/costs cited: Front brake pads and rotors replaced at 23,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warning system provided for brake pad wear monitoring
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My 2017 Jeep Cherokee rolled away three times in one day while in Park with the Electric Parking Brake engaged. My driveway has no flat area and slopes toward a public road, creating a serious hazard for my family and traffic. The rollaways occurred suddenly with no warning lights. I had to park the Jeep sideways in a snowbank for two weeks to prevent further rollaways, creating added risks for…
I had the car for about 35 days. I was driving home from work on a side street and my brakes failed. I applied the brakes as I was coming upon a 3 way stop sign. My breaks jammed,and failed to stop. I hit another car and we both walked away with minor injuries. My Jeep was totaled. All airbags deployed and I had all front end damage. I feel their is either a problem with the break modulator, or…
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 30,700 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/2017/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.