NHTSA Complaint #11629467 — 2015 JEEP CHEROKEE

Driving through [XXX] in Belfair, WA my 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with the 2.4L started running rough and was jerking. As I entered the turn lane the Service Park Brake light flashed, my Jeep jerked to a stop and the emergency brake was turned on while I was still in Drive. I could not get the Emergency Brake to release even after putting my vehicle into park and pressing the brake pedal. I turned the Jeep off then back on but the Emergency Brake was still stuck on. I had to shut the Jeep off and get out of my vehicle on a very busy Highway to get my tools from the spare tire cargo. Upon retrieving my tools I noticed several inches of standing water in the spare tire area. I then popped my hood, disconnected the battery then reconnected the battery. This allowed the Emergency Brake to release so I could drive to the nearest parking lot. I was along an extremely busy State Highway for almost 10 minutes and nearly got hit by other vehicles including school busses and big rigs! My Jeep was towed to my home in Shelton, WA where further inspection showed water had been leaking from the lift gate. I removed all panels and found almost 4 inches of water where my spare sits, mold, water and moisture on and around the ECU and the Automatic Braking System and rust. The seals are good but when it rains the water finds its way in! These pictures are from after when I used my shop vac to get the water out. I found there is a recall for the exact same thing but only for Power Lift Gates. I do not have a Power Lift Gate but this is a major safety issue and should be recalled whether the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has a power lift gate or manual lift gate! A quick internet search shows so many other Jeep Owners without the Power Lift Gate have the same issue and complaints! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)