1998 JEEP WRANGLER Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND APPROXIMATELY 3 CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT I BEGAN BRAKING AND HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD AND WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL. I LIFTED THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR AND REAPPLIED IT AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNTIL IT RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE UP REALLY HIGH AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL AND AFTER I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAK THE VEHICLE STOPPED IDLING UP HIGH. *NM

Mileage: 97,061

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

BRAKES HAD FALLEN OUT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP.*AK

WHILE GOING IN REVERSE REAR BRAKES DIN'T LOCK UP. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. BRAND NEW HUBS & BRAKE SHOES, AND IT CHANGED NOTHING.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE RE-FINISHED AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES. I QUESTION THE QUALITY OF MATERIALS CHRYSLER IS USING. STEERING WHEEL RUBBING: STEERING COLUMN WOULD MAKE A RUBBING NOISE EVERY TIME IT WAS TURNED. DID THIS EVEN ON THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE NEW OFF THE LOT. THEY SAID IT WAS A SIMPLE LUBRICATION ISSUE. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE WAS BACK. I BROUGHT IT IN A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY RESOLVED, APPARENTLY WITH SOME NEW SUPER SLICK POLYMER AND ONLY AFTER I PERSONALLY CALLED THE FACTORY TO GET ADVICE. OTHER ISSUES: DRIVER'S SEAT CREAKS LIKE AN OLD TRACTOR. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES ON MY DASH GOING OFF. THEY KNEW WHAT THAT WAS AND DIXED IT. EXHAUST MANIFOLD WENT AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES (MORE SUBSTANDARD PARTS USED BY CHRYSLER). THIS IS WHY I HESITATE TO BUY AMERICAN.

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE ON LEFT HAND SIDE DUE TO BELTS GETTING PINCHED IN HARDTOP DOORS AND DAMAGING BELTS. BELT ON RIGHT HAND HAS HAD FAILURE OF SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK DURING HARD STOP. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED MOMENTARILY. FIX WAS TO CLEAN AND GREASE CONNECTORS. SYSTEM IS STARTING TO REPEAT SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN LOWER BUSHING HAS DEVELOPED NOISE, AFTER RAIN OR ONSET OF COLD WEATHER. DEALER STATES FIX IS TO LUBE BUSHING, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER 4 DEALER VISITS. REAR AXLE SEALS ON LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND WERE LEAKING, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP WITH MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION ON DAMP PAVEMENT OR SANDY ROAD SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEALS, BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION OR CLEANING. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED WATER LEAKAGE FROM AROUND WINDSHIELD ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDES, RIGHT HAND HARDTOP DOOR HINGE ATTACH BOLTS, THRU SEALS ON COWL AND AROUND DOORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL SEALS, RTV'D GAPS, AND INSTALLED UPDATED DOOR SEALS, BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. ALSO, CARPETS WERE WATER DAMAGED IN FRONT PASSENGER AREA DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE FROM VEHICLE BODY AND AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT FOR UP TO TWO DAYS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR WATER LEAKS AND MULTIPLE REPAIR COMPLAINTS.*AK

THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON ANY SURFACE AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES [DISC] LOCK UP AND THE BACK WHEELS JUST KEEP ROLLING. THEY PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE AT ALL. *AK

THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON ANY SURFACE AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES [DISC] LOCK UP AND THE BACK WHEELS JUST KEEP ROLLING. THEY PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE AT ALL. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 60-62 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT RESULTED IN REAR OF VEHICLE TO BEGIN SLIDING AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE FOUR SHEEL ABS SYSTEM HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHECKED FOLLOWING A TIRE LOCK-UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER PERFORMED DRB TEST AND CHECK FOR CODES, NONE FOUND AND ABS OPERATING AT THIS TIME. DEALER AGREED THAT ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE SHOULDN'T RESPOND IN THIS FASHION. OWNER REQUESTED FOLLOW-UP BY CHRYSLER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

EXPERIENCED WHEEL LOCK-UP DURING A PANIC STOP FROM 60 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER TESTED ABS SYSTEM WITH DRBIII. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. INFOMED CONSUMER THAT DRUM BRAKES WILL PERFORM DIFFERENTLY THAN FRONT ABS BRAKES. REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN ABS IS ACTIVATED. WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND SHORT WHEEL BASE, VEHICLE WILL FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS SKIDDING WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE, NO FIX ATTEMPTED. *AK

BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP LEAKS BRAKE FLUID, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN BRAKE FLUID AT THE DESIGN LEVEL. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH A NEW CAP WHICH ALSO LEAKED. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LOSS OF BRAKES.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM BY REPLACING DRUMS AND VALVE, BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER CURES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THERE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM BY REPLACING DRUMS AND VALVE, BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER CURES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THERE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

FRONT BRAKES / ROTORS / BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. *YC

FRONT BRAKES / ROTORS / BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. *YC

THE REAR BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ANY STOPPING ASSISTANCE,THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON GRAVEL AND THE REAR WHEELS NEVER SLIDE OR PROVIDE ANY STOPPING POWER. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON GRAVEL OR ANY SLICK SURFACE THE FRONT WHEELS ALWAYS SLIDE EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND. WHEN BACKING DOWN A HILL ON GRAVEL OR A SLICK SURFACE THE JEEP WONT STOP UNLESS I USE THE HAND BRAKE ALONG WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE TESTED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IT IS THE SAME EACH TIME. THE DEALER JUST SAYS THEY ARE ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO STOPPING POWER!

DRUM WILL NOT KEEP ITS SHAPE. DEALER NOFITIED. *AK