Spongy Cherokee Brakes Signal Hydraulic System Trouble

Last month I dealt with similar brake pedal issues on my Grand Cherokee 4xe. The symptoms match what you describe, spongy pedal feel and inconsistent brake response. The hydraulic brakes needed attention due to air in the brake lines. When the mechanic inspected the system, they found the brake fluid had absorbed moisture over time, degrading the fluid quality. This affected the entire hydraulic brake system performance. The fix required a complete brake fluid flush and bleeding of the brake lines. They also inspected the brake rotors and brake pads, finding them in acceptable condition. While this wasnt a severe safety issue when caught early, it could have developed into a more serious problem if left unaddressed. The repair process took about 2 hours since they needed to properly bleed all brake lines to remove air bubbles. This is important in hybrid vehicles as they have an integrated regenerative braking system working alongside the conventional hydraulic brakes. Given your mileage and the age of the brake fluid, I recommend having the brake system inspected soon. Regular brake fluid changes are often overlooked but crucial for maintaining proper brake performance.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My brake calipers also needed a thorough inspection during the service, but fortunately they were fine. Did you remember the total cost for the brake fluid flush and system bleeding? Also curious if youve noticed any other brake-related issues since the repair was done. Always good to know what to watch out for with these hybrid braking systems.

After the brake fluid flush and system bleeding, my Cherokee has been performing flawlessly. The brake pedal now feels firm and responsive, completely resolving the previous spongy brake issues. The hydraulic brakes are working exactly as they should, with no squeaky brakes or other concerns in the months since the repair. The total service cost came to 240 Euro, which covered diagnosing the undervoltage problem, bleeding the brake lines, and the new fluid. While not cheap, it was worth it for the peace of mind and restored braking performance. Just keep an eye on your brake fluid levels and condition during routine maintenance. The hybrid braking system requires proper fluid quality to maintain optimal performance of both the regenerative and conventional braking components. Regular inspection of brake rotors and brake pads is also important, even though they werent the root cause in our cases.

Thanks for the helpful advice. I took my Cherokee to a mechanic yesterday. The diagnosis confirmed air in the brake lines and old brake fluid, just as suggested. The repair involved a complete system flush and bleeding. Total bill came to 280 Euro, slightly more than expected but the brake pedal feels solid now. The mechanic showed me the old brake fluid which had turned dark and explained how moisture contamination affects the hydraulic brake system. They also checked the disc brakes and calipers while doing the work. Everything else looked good. The whole job took about 3 hours but the results were worth it. The brake pedal response is back to normal with no more sponginess. Will definitely keep up with regular brake fluid changes from now on to avoid similar issues.