SPRING KIT - DISC BRAKE PAD
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 13 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
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 86 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 4 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 16 |
| 2022 Grand Cherokee | 8 |
| 2023 Grand Cherokee (this page) | 13 |
| 2024 Grand Cherokee | 6 |
3crashes
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.
The customer states the ABS and Traction Control warning comes on. Vehicle sets wheel speed BSCM/ABS fault codes.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) Unavailable – Service Required Message In Cluster
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗C0044-00-BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR 1 (MODULE, Brake System Control 2 (BSCM 2))
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Power brake booster To avoid potential charge-back, only use MOPAR approved brake fluid per the service manual. When filling the brake reservoir, use clean equipment and gloves during repair to avoid cross-contamination.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee brake system shows a pattern of serious failures across multiple subsystems. The automatic emergency braking system repeatedly engages without hazards present—sometimes at highway speeds—causing hard stops in traffic that create rear-end collision risks. One owner disabled all brake assist settings but the system continued activating. Dealers have visited multiple times on these complaints but consistently fail to reproduce or diagnose the issue.
Loss of power-assisted braking is another recurring failure. Multiple owners report the brake pedal suddenly losing pressure and going to the floor, requiring extreme leg force to stop. In one case, an owner held the brake pedal on an upgrade for three minutes before losing all pressure and hitting the vehicle ahead. Another owner had to shift to neutral to stop the vehicle because manual braking force alone was insufficient.
Electrical faults trigger cascading warning lights—ABS, traction control, and check engine—often accompanied by brake dysfunction. One vehicle experienced this pattern three times in five days despite ABS module and booster replacement. The brake systems remain non-functional during these events.
A 2023 model at 46,811 miles stalled during a turn with ABS and gear shift lock messages; the transmission repeatedly shifted back to park when the driver tried to proceed.
One owner towing with a Brake Buddy system experienced brake line melt-out and total fluid loss. Brake Buddy later disclosed the system is incompatible with AEB vehicles—a compatibility issue Jeep did not disclose despite advertising four-wheel towing capability.
A dealer acknowledged forward collision and rear Park Sense systems as having a "known issue with no known fix."
Same Jeep Grand Cherokee brakes reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Malfunction
The vehicle's automatic emergency braking system activates unexpectedly with no obstacle or hazard present, causing hard stops in traffic. Multiple owners report repeated unwanted stops at highway speeds and in normal driving conditions. One owner notes the system continues to activate even after disabling brake assist options in settings.
When: Various speeds (30-45 mph typical); one incident at 1,800 miles, another at 3,000 miles, others at undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking with no vehicle or pedestrian in front; Crash warning message appears before unexpected stop; System activates randomly multiple times; Continues to engage even after brake assist is disabled in settings; Vehicle stops abruptly in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer visited multiple times, unable to reproduce or diagnose issue; no repairs performed; one report of ABS module replacement followed by recurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One recall (NHTSA Campaign 25V576000, Electrical System) was performed but failure occurred one week after repair at 35,000 miles. Dealer and manufacturer contacted but no effective resolution documented.
Loss of Brake Assist/Power Brakes
The vehicle loses power-assisted braking function, requiring excessive pedal force to stop. Owners report the brake pedal becoming very stiff or going to the floor with no stopping power, creating dangerous situations where the vehicle cannot be controlled effectively.
When: Varied; one incident at 5,364 miles, another at 46,811 miles; one occurred after several minutes of holding brake on an upgrade
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal loses pressure and goes to floorboard; Extreme difficulty stopping, requiring excessive leg force; Vehicle slows incredibly slowly despite hard braking; Power steering/brake assist fails completely; ABS and brake warning lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: ABS warning lamp, Traction control warning lamp, Brake warning lamp
Repairs/costs cited: One repair cited wiring as cause; failure recurred immediately after. One report of ABS module replacement without resolving underlying issue. One vehicle remained at dealer undiagnosed and unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted in one case; one vehicle had case filed after dealer notification
Brake System Electrical Faults and Warning Lamp Cascade
Dashboard illuminates with multiple warning lamps (ABS, traction control, check engine) simultaneously, often accompanied by brake system malfunction. This pattern has recurred multiple times in at least one vehicle and has been provisionally attributed to software issues.
When: Multiple occurrences in one vehicle; 17 days after first ABS module replacement, then 5 days after software fix
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning lamp illuminates; Traction control warning lamp illuminates; Check engine light illuminates; Low tire pressure warning light illuminates; Dashboard lights up with multiple warnings simultaneously; Brakes become virtually non-functional during warning cascade
Codes mentioned: ABS system fault, Traction control fault, Check engine code, Low tire pressure warning
Repairs/costs cited: ABS module replaced; booster module replaced; attributed to software update by dealer; recurring pattern despite repairs
Brake Pedal Malfunction and Gear Shift Lock
The brake pedal and transmission shift mechanism malfunction simultaneously, with the vehicle stalling during normal driving. The gear shift independently returns to park when driver attempts to move forward after braking.
When: At 46,811 miles while making a turn at 35-45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while making turn at normal speed; ABS warning and gear shift lock messages displayed; Unable to shift out of park after depressing brake pedal; Rotary dial independently shifts back to park; Vehicle cannot be pulled to roadside safely
Codes mentioned: ABS system message, Gear shift lock message
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle jumpstarted at dealer; not diagnosed or repaired; transmission confirmed leaking but not repaired; vehicle remained at dealer for several months unrepaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Brake System Incompatibility with Aftermarket Brake Buddy Tow Control System
When the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee is towed with a Brake Buddy auxiliary braking system (which had worked flawlessly on the owner's prior 2016 Grand Cherokee for 5 years), a malfunction occurs—either in the AEB system or Brake Buddy—causing the brakes to engage with sustained pressure. This heat causes brake lines to melt at fittings or blow out, resulting in complete brake fluid loss. Brake Buddy manufacturer later confirmed incompatibility with AEB-equipped vehicles.
When: Occurred during towing after vehicle had been used for towing for one year with Brake Buddy system
Symptoms owners cite: Sustained brake pressure while towing; Brake lines melt at fittings or blow out of fittings; Complete loss of brake fluid; Brakes become dangerously hot; No flat-spotting of tires despite dragging; Loss of braking function in towed vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Brake lines melted; brake fluid lost entirely; Jeep later determined not to be cause; Brake Buddy manufacturer claimed system incompatible with AEB vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Jeep denied responsibility; Brake Buddy advised system is not compatible with AEB-equipped vehicles; no notice provided by either manufacturer regarding compatibility
Forward Collision and Park Sense Rear Collision System Failure
The forward collision warning system and rear collision (Park Sense) system malfunction or do not operate properly. Dealer states this is a known issue with no known fix. The owner experienced two near-accidents before recognizing the system was not functional.
When: Occurred on unknown date; no warning lights present
Symptoms owners cite: Forward collision system fails to warn of obstacles; Rear collision/Park Sense system does not activate; No warning lights or fault indicators present; System does not detect obstacles in near-accident scenarios
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledges known issue with no known fix
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 2023 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 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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 13 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 30,544 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/2023/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.