2016 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 93owner reports
- 41,111median miles
- $900median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Jun 2, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
93 of the 1,406 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 93 reports
Brake wear on other Cherokee years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (20 reports), the booster (7 reports) and the pads and rotors (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Cherokee
Brake roter disc/hud separation. Closed mar 28, 2000, led to recall 00V-136.
Brake rotor disc/hub separation. Open, led to recall 98V-005.
Brake disc/hub separation. Closed jan 9, 1998, led to recall 98V-005.
Brake disc/hub separation. Closed jan 13, 1997.
Brake performance. Closed feb 12, 1993.
Failed antilock brakes. Closed jan 14, 1991, led to recall 91V-003.
Failed antilock brakes. Closed apr 26, 1990.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 93 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $482 to $2,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,673 and 54,656 miles, from the 40 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My emergency brake is automatically engaging randomly. I was at a red light and it engaged and my vehicle would not move while in Drive. I had to shift to park and back to drive in the middle of traffic.”
Filed Oct 23, 2023
“Was driving and my parking break engaged on its on for several seconds and then disengaged on its own.”
Filed Oct 5, 2023
“Emergency brake will not disengage and is effecting braking and driving. It has been inspected but 2 different mechanics who have been unable to resolve issue. This has ruined my brakes and has made the vehicle difficult to drive.”
Filed Sep 23, 2023
“While driving my jeep the service park brake light came on and shortly after the park break automatically engaged and brought me to a stop, it has been in the shop 4 different times for this same issue and they canât get it fixed, I get it back and it just continues to happen over and over, this is a huge safety issue and I would like there to be a fix for it”
Filed Aug 28, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 93 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 269 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 258 reports
- Service 4WD light or power transfer unit (PTU) failure 224 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 107 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 90 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 87 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 81 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 62 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 51 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 48 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 31 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 25 reports