Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Front left and right calipers seized causing caliper, pad and rotor overheating and brake rotor cracked and failed causing me to scrape a guard rail while attempting to stop. This is the third brake caliper related failure I have had in the last 24 months. The previous 2 resulted in my replacing calipers rotors and pads. Jeep is aware that the calipers are defective and would replace them with an upgraded different type but only while vehicle was under warranty. There are dozens of reports on line at various forums of this exact same problem. I have ordered the upgraded caliper (now that I know about them) and will replace this but Jeep should notify all owners of this known issue so that we do not continue to replace a known bad part with the same known bad parts. As I consider this dangerous a recall would not be out of the question either.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled but continued to roll forward. The contact had to shift the gear shifter into the park position to get the vehicle to come to a complete halt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard without warning. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000.
While driving at 45-50 MPH the vehicle started pulling to the right,steering wheel shimmied, and smoke came from under the hood. The dealership indicated that the brake calipers had locked up and caught on fire. Dealership replaced the calipers,rotor,pads etc,. Problem recurred.
Went to back car out of the garage, when the car was put in reverse, it immediately accelerated on its own and shot back approximately 60 yards, hit our basketball pole and damaged the driver door and rt. Front quarter panel. Unable to stop it with foot on brake!!!!
I purchased my 1999 Grand Cherokee in October 1999. Within the first 3 months, I had the rotors turned. Within the first year, I had the rotors resurfaced another two times, had them replaced and had new front pads put on. Within the next two years of ownership, I had the rotors resurfaced at least three time and had the replaced one time. I'm now in my fourth year of owning the vehicle and again replaced the rotors, pads and calipers. As the car left warranty at two years, my total out-of-pocket costs is approximately $2,400. With this expense, I have put off repairs until the driving is so bad because I could not afford them. Brakes are a safety issue and this problem has been ignored by daimler Chrysler and NHTSA. When the rotors become warped, the car is extremely difficult to handle while braking. …
Defect in rotors/calipers on 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo. Braking at 40 miles & above car shimmied.rrotors changed under warranty three times within first 2years. Adams Jeep, west street, annapolis, md would no longer cover under warranty. They denied there was a defect. Chryser rep said it was my driving and washed their hands of me. My neighbor had same problem and he said a friend of his who works for a Jeep dealership in maryland told him there is a defect but it is not the rotors, it's the calipers that sit on top of the rotors that was warping them. He gave me his paper work and it showed a special "package" chryser had put together to take care of the problem (I can send you the paper work). I faxed to adams Jeep, enclosing my neighbor's paperwork and told them I knew now of the defect. I demanded they fix my car with this pecial "package". …
I bought a "5-star certifed " low mileage 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee from russwood motors. Lincoln, ne. Brake pulsation was noted on test drive,and dealer agreed to correct before delivery. Again after a short time and very few miles, the puslation reappeared. Russwood again agreed to correct this. Later this pulsation came back, worse. I had the brakes serviced at another location. Later, last winter the pulsation became progressivley worse. In south texsas for the winter, we elected to wait till we returned to nebraska so russwood could permanently correct the problem. Russwood advised the repair was covered by Jeep service bulletin 05-003-02-rev.b (and prior), my warranty had just expired, and the repair would be at my expense, amounting to about $600. …
Since I owned this vehicle it has been a hazard safety for me and my family.I can honestly say im afraid even to sell it and pass the problem on to someone else.until someone gets killed is when Jeep will finally due something about it.the brakes and rotors are constantly warping or failing.constant shuddering/vibrating in slow speed stop and high speed decelaration stop.on this site alone there is 326 complaints about the same issue, but nothing is being done.dealer just turns rotors and fixes pads.how many times do you actually turn a rotor.come on already.there is a class action lawsuit against Chrysler in effect right now as im writing this.it is only valid for kansas/missour residents only.hello the rest of the country has the same problem with the Cherokee.rotors and pads have been serviced only nothing else.I took the vehicle to another brake shop for a second opinion.they stated …
Dt: 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle has 48,677 miles currently. At 14,754 miles they resurfaced the front brake rotors and replaced the pads, this was on October 18, 2000. Then on July 15, 2002, at 28,186 miles the front brake rotors had to be replaced and the pads. On May 3, 2004 at 42,123 miles, the rotors had to be resurfaced and replace the pads. On Monday, July 11, 2005 at 48,502 miles the vehicle was taken in for a lube job and the consumer asked to have the brakes checked because he felt pulsation in the brake. She was told the rotors need to be replaced again and new pads would be needed. The dealership states the brakes are not covered under the warranty because they are considered wear and tear items and only covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles. After speaking with the district service manager, she was reimbursed, $211, for the work done on May 3, 2004. …
Brake complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 622 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 38% of the model year's 1,638 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (349 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 4 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 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 15 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries and 1 death 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.