Feds investigate complaints about Jeep autonomous brakes

DETROIT – U.S. safety regulators are investigating complaints that the autonomous braking system on newer Jeep Grand Cherokees can come on for no reason, increasing the risk of rear-end crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which posted notice of the probe on Friday, said it covers about 20,000 Grand Cherokees from the 2014 model year.

The Jeeps are equipped with cruise control systems that automatically brake if they’re closing too fast on an object in front of them.

The feature is championed by safety advocates as a breakthrough in reducing crashes and highway deaths because it can react faster than humans. But the investigation shows that the systems also can experience problems.

NHTSA says it has received nine complaints that the Jeep system suddenly reduced speed “with no pending threats in the line of travel.”

No crashes or injuries have been reported to the agency.

The agency says it will investigate how often the problem happens and its consequences. The probe could lead to a recall.

Several of those who complained to NHTSA said the brakes came on and nearly caused other cars to hit them from behind. Many reported that the malfunction happened multiple times.