2020 Jeep Cherokee · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 25owner reports
- 11,700median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
25 of the 305 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 25 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 (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2020 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 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,300 and 47,577 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
ESC Light Illuminated. DTC C1252-92 VACUUM PUMP CONTROL CIRCUIT And Or P258B ELECTRONIC VACUUM PUMP PERFORMANCE
What owners wrote
“MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING AND MY PARKING BRAKE TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING!!!!! This is the same problem that was recalled on jeep Cherokee years from 2017-2019, but my 2020 is not covered in the recall and my neighbor has the same exact car and year and has had to replace his put twice!!!!!! MY MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED!!!!!!!”
Filed Oct 17, 2025
“Parking brake will automatically engage randomly while car is stopped at lights, stops signs, ect. The only way to reset is to put vehicle in park, turn off ignition and restart vehicle. Has happened several times over the last 3 months.”
Filed May 28, 2025
“Vehicle randomly will engage the parking brake while vehicle is in motion and in drive. Vehicle then will stall and needs repeated attempts to restart before break will disengage. Have had it to the dealer, no less than three times with one visit lasting over 30 days with no resolution to date.”
Filed Apr 29, 2024
“Parking break will automatically engage and stop the vehicle while driving or in motion. It happens randomly and at different speeds. Have taken to two separate dealerships, and neither seem to think there is a problem because they havenât duplicated.”
Filed Mar 16, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 25 reports involved a crash. 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