Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be depressed while standing almost up. In addition, the electronic brake failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake booster failure. The contact was informed that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated the failure had occurred three times, and the brake booster was replaced after each failure. In addition, the contact stated that on two occasions, the vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V572000 (Service Brakes, Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. …
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle at a gas station, the check engine and brake warning lights illuminated after restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate after several attempts. A handheld scanner was used to retrieve a code for a failure with the parking brake. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the failure was confirmed. The contact was informed that the parking brake module, actuator, and wiring needed to be replaced and that the vehicle should be taken to the dealer for the repair. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to have the vehicle towed in for a diagnostic test. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a turn on a backroad, the vehicle stopped abruptly as the electric parking brake engaged independently. The contact stated that the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and became inoperable. The check engine warning light and the Service Transmission warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the road. The contact shifted into park (P). The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE22009 (Parking Brake). The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his daughter was approaching a stoplight, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond causing 3 feet stopping distance delay. The message "Service Electronic Brake System" appeared on the instrument panel and the brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter put the vehicle in neutral and stopped the vehicle. The contact stated that as the traffic cleared, his daughter pulled into a nearby gas station and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as having an electrical failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the next day while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brakes started to fail. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not able to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving out of a parking space, the electronic parking brake engaged inadvertently, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the parking brake lever was independently lifted, and the parking brake indicator light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while reversing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake switch was released, however the parking brake failed to release as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts, the parking brake was released. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed park brake switch. The contact was informed that the parking brake switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the electronic parking brake engaged and the contact pulled over. The parking brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the tires had locked up and the electronic parking brake needed to be replaced. The parts were not available and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: PE22009 (Parking Brake). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving various speed, the parking brake engaged independently. The contact stated that the service parking brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she was able to release the parking brake and continued driving to her destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the parking brake engaged and disengaged independently. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due water leaking into the electrical system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 4,672.
NHTSA investigations
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-009 after having received 80 complaints on model years 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokees alleging the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) inadvertently activated while the vehicle was in motion.During this investigation, the subject vehicles were updated to include only Model Years (MY) 2014-2016, while MY 2017-2020 were considered peers.Based on related repair…
Brake complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2016 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 103 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, 7% of the model year's 1,411 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Jeep Cherokee brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2016 Jeep Cherokee, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Cherokee brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.