2024 Jeep Gladiator

This happened on a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. When parking I went to set the parking brake and as I pulled the handle I heard a pop and felt the handle release all pressure. With the handle up there was no braking effect. Dealer repaired by hooking the right wheel cable back onto the bracket located under the center console, and then adjusting.

My 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave has an ongoing brake issue that persists despite inspections by multiple dealerships. When starting the vehicle in the morning, the brake pedal is unusually hard and sits lower than expected, requiring excessive force before the engine will engage. Once the engine is running, pedal pressure returns to normal. For comparison, I also regularly drive a 2020 Jeep Gladiator and a 2023 Jeep Wrangler, neither of which exhibit this condition. Additionally, after driving for approximately one hour or longer, the vehicle experiences significant brake fade. Increased pedal pressure is required to slow or stop the vehicle, particularly during downhill driving. I routinely drive long distances between Seattle and Tucson and consider this a serious safety concern. In an attempt to address the issue, I spent several hundred dollars upgrading the braking system with ceramic brake pads and drilled rotors. While overall braking performance improved somewhat, the hard brake pedal during startup and brake fade issues remain constant and unresolved. I have worked extensively with two Jeep dealerships regarding this matter: Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Tucson and West Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM. I also contacted a Jeep customer service representative, who advised that if dealership technicians could not identify a problem, then no issue existed. An independent mechanic suggested the symptoms may indicate a vacuum leak affecting the brake booster system, which could explain the excessive pedal force required during startup. However, to the best of my knowledge, neither dealership has performed a thorough investigation of the brake booster or vacuum system.

Date of Incident: [XXX] Time: [XXX] Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Vehicle: 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X Mileage at Time of Incident: Approximately 11,000 miles System Involved: Adaptive Cruise Control / Braking System Speed at Time of Incident: 45 MPH in a 45 MPH zone Road & Weather Conditions: Dry, clear weather, good road conditions Description of Incident: While driving at approximately 45 MPH with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the traffic light ahead turned yellow. As I have done many times before in similar conditions, I applied the brakes firmly to slow and stop for the light. However, the vehicle did not slow down as normally expected. As the light turned red and cross traffic began entering the intersection, I pressed the brakes as hard as possible. The vehicle began to slow, and the tires felt like they were “hopping,” but the vehicle never came to a complete stop. Because I was now in the middle of the intersection with a red light and vehicles entering from other directions, I released the brake to avoid a collision. At that point, the vehicle lurched forward, and I realized the cruise control system was still engaged and was actively propelling the vehicle forward. A short time later, the cruise control system finally disengaged on its own. This malfunction nearly caused a serious accident. Under normal operation, pressing the brake pedal firmly at any speed should immediately disengage adaptive cruise control, but this did not occur. Dealer Response: Immediately after the incident, the vehicle was taken to the Mount Pleasant Jeep dealership, SC. The dealership’s technician connected a diagnostic code reader and stated there were no fault codes. They also checked for Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and stated none existed for this issue. The technician told me there was nothing further they could do. The dealership did not perform a road test, did not escalate the issue to the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5