PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Jeep Wrangler brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler have filed 12 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
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Wrangler | 48 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 25 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 9 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 7 |
| 2021 Wrangler (this page) | 12 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 5 |
2crashes
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.
PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ESC Light Illuminated. DTC C1252-92 VACUUM PUMP CONTROL CIRCUIT And Or P258B ELECTRONIC VACUUM PUMP PERFORMANCE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SWITCH - CLUTCH STARTER INTERLOCK & MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY - CLUTCH
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Antilock Brake System (ABS) Module Will Not Initialize After Recent Service Replacement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a pattern of brake system failures on the 2021 Jeep Wrangler starting as early as 15,000 miles. The most serious complaints involve complete loss of braking power—pedal becomes unresponsive or bottoms out with no stopping ability—accompanied by ABS and electronic stability control warning lights. One owner had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle; another crashed into parked cars. One owner reported the manufacturer acknowledged this as a known issue with no available fix.
Power brake assist failures also appear, with dealers replacing brake boosters and vacuum pumps multiple times; one vacuum pump failed three times in quick succession, with the supplier calling the second unit defective. Master cylinder defects have been reported and repaired without resolving intermittent pedal failures that recur despite four or more service visits.
A driver-side front brake hose (Mopar part 68307451AH) is on nationwide backorder affecting over 841 vehicles, causing loss of braking pressure and vehicle pull.
Owners also describe unintended acceleration events where the vehicle lurches forward or backward despite brake application, with multiple warning lights illuminating. One owner reported the vehicle would not respond to brake or shifter input and crashed into three vehicles before finally stopping.
A regenerative braking system fault on a 4xe model resulted in loss of motive power and occasional failure to start. Dealership diagnostics have frequently found no fault code history, even immediately after events.
Same Jeep Wrangler brakes reports on nearby years: 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Complete brake failure with loss of stopping power
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or travels to the floor with no hydraulic pressure. Multiple owners report inability to stop the vehicle even with repeated hard pedal application. In at least one case, emergency brake was used to halt the vehicle.
When: Between 15,000 and 30,000 miles; one owner reported onset within 2 weeks of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or spongy; Pedal travels fully to floor with no resistance; ABS warning light illuminated; Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light illuminated; Traction Control warning light illuminated; Vehicle will not stop despite repeated pedal application
Codes mentioned: ABS warning, ESC warning, Traction Control warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced master cylinder in one case; issue persisted. Dealer replaced ABS unit twice in another case without resolving the failure. One owner reports HCV (Hydraulic Control Valve) possibly implicated. Repairs have not been effective in several cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, manufacturer acknowledged the failure as a known issue with the model and stated there was no fix available at the time of complaint.
Brake booster failure with loss of power assist
Power brake assist fails, requiring excessive pedal force to stop the vehicle. Dealer replaced brake booster and vacuum pump multiple times, but vacuum pump failed repeatedly even after replacement.
When: After initial repair, subsequent failures occurred at 64 miles and again around 100 miles post-repair
Symptoms owners cite: No power boost to brakes; Loss of brake assist; Excessive pedal pressure required to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced brake booster initially without resolving the issue. Vacuum pump was replaced twice; first replacement was called defective by the parts supplier. Third failure occurred around 100 miles after second vacuum pump replacement.
Brake hose rupture or failure
Brake hose on driver-side front caliper ruptured or failed, causing loss of braking to that wheel and pulling to one side. Owner reports brake hose Mopar part ID 68307451AH on backorder for over 841 vehicles nationwide.
When: Not specified; condition creates ongoing risk
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers to the right while braking; Brake hose leak or rupture
Repairs/costs cited: Brake hose Mopar product ID 68307451AH is on nationwide backorder with over 841 units affected. Replacement part unavailable across U.S. dealership network. No alternate part found.
Intermittent brake pedal failure with floor drop
Brake pedal occasionally loses resistance and travels to the floor without providing stopping power. Issue is intermittent and sporadic, occurring repeatedly despite multiple dealer service attempts.
When: Began within 2 weeks of purchase; continues sporadically after at least 4 service visits
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal goes completely to floor occasionally; No brakes when pedal reaches floor; ABS system affected; Sporadic, intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult
Codes mentioned: ABS warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced master cylinder; issue persisted. ABS system also implicated. Vehicle serviced at least 4 times; problem continues intermittently. HCV (Hydraulic Control Valve) possibly involved but not definitively diagnosed.
Vehicle unintended acceleration with brake override failure
Vehicle lurches forward or accelerates unexpectedly even with driver's foot on brake pedal. In multiple incidents, vehicle refused to stop despite brake application and crashed into other vehicles or property.
When: At 15,000 miles in one incident; other incidents at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward and backward suddenly; Vehicle accelerates with foot on brake; Vehicle will not respond to gear shifter or brake input; Gear shifter lights blink during incident; Multiple warning lights illuminate during event (Stability Control, ABS, Traction Control)
Codes mentioned: Stability Control warning, ABS warning, Traction Control warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle retrieved by manufacturer for evaluation in one case; results not reported. No repairs detailed in available narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer retrieved vehicle for evaluation; no further information provided on findings or resolution.
Regenerative braking system fault with loss of motive power
Regenerative braking warning followed by loss of vehicle motive control. Engine will not accelerate and vehicle rolls backward. Multiple warning lights illuminate.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Regenerative braking must be serviced notice displayed; Loss of motive control; Accelerator unresponsive; Vehicle rolls backward; Multiple warning lights illuminate; Vehicle sometimes will not start
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership found no diagnostic evidence of fault; referred issue to Chevrolet engineers for further investigation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership working with Chevrolet engineers on diagnosis.
Synthesized from 12 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 2021 Jeep Wrangler?
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 2021 Jeep Wrangler?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 24,333 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/2021/Jeep/Wrangler.
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.