Jeep Cherokee Parking Brake Issues Prompt Federal Investigation
» Posted September 16, 2022 • Resources | Share This Post
Federal regulators are taking a closer look at a possible parking brake defect in certain Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicles.
“A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a July 22 report.
The probe covers some 1.3 million Jeep Cherokees from the 2014 through 2020 model years. It comes in response to roughly 80 complaints that water leaking into SUVs makes parking brakes inoperable.
The complaints allege that “the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) inadvertently activates while the vehicle is in motion,” according to NHTSA. “Based on related repair invoices, it appears the EPB module is damaged by water leaking into the vehicle. When the EPB inadvertently activates, it causes a stalling condition bringing the vehicle to a stop.”
That is not only a problem for Cherokee drivers and passengers. Unexpected stalling poses a safety hazard to everyone on the road.
A Jeep spokesman told Consumer Reports that the company is aware of one accident related to the defect. The crash did not result in any injuries, according to the spokesman.
Jeep recalled about 100,000 Cherokee SUVs in 2015, citing a similar problem with parking brakes. NHTSA has not yet instructed the company to issue another recall.
Late last year, the company called back some 100,000 Cherokee and other SUVs because of a software defect that it said may disable airbags in the vehicles. Jeep acknowledged at the time that the problem put vehicle occupants at a heightened risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Defective Jeep Cherokee? Know Your California Lemon Law Rights
The good news for Jeep and other car owners in California is that you do not need to wait for a recall to get a defective or malfunctioning vehicle fixed. The California lemon law offers some important rights and protections.
Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces those companies to buy back (or replace, in some circumstances) vehicles that they cannot or will not fix. That includes covering the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses.
There is no magic number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback requirement kicks in. That is one reason why it is vital to seek the assistance of a seasoned lemon law attorney. The law requires car manufacturers to foot the bill for certain legal fees incurred by owners while enforcing their rights.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney Today
If you are a Jeep Cherokee or other car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.
