Mysterious Tire Pressure Monitoring System Error Warning - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road


Our 2014 Jeep Cherokee has a full-featured TPMS system, but last weekend it displayed an error message.
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As Dan said, this may have been an anomaly that the system identified, and then was smart enough to correct by itself. There is no evidence of a systemic failure at this point. But if that were the case, then of course it would be concerning.
TPMS sensors drive me nuts. I've dropped about a grand on new sensors for my CX-9 as the OEM ones have broken of during tire changes, etc. The guys as my local shop tell me that about 75% of the cars they see come in with a TPMS light on and most owners are conditioned to ignore them. What makes things worse is that people are ignoring the light because its always on AND not checking tire pressure because they are used to TPMS. This is an example where the government has mandated something that might be making us less safe.
Got a feeling this is what happened with the Jeep.
Even on modern cars, a lot of TPMS systems will indicate a low tire during colder weather, even though there isn't actually a problem. Most of the time, the light goes off after the tires heat up after driving for a few miles. All manufacturers with any sort of info screen should indicate the PSI for each wheel. My friend has a GMC Terrain that is older than my mother's 2013 Tiguan, yet unlike the Tiguan, it shows the PSI for each wheel. Manufacturers need to do a better job at using their technology in the best way that they can. If you can show the PSI for each tire, do so. Like with the Jeep, if there is a problem with the system and not an individual tire, show a system error, not the PSI screen. I would definitely be just as confused as you were, Dan.
At the same time, drivers need to be more knowledgable of their cars. My grandmother has a 2007 Audi A4, and while I was in the car, a brake pad wear warning popped up on her info display. Since it was just a symbol with no text, I wouldn't have even known what it meant if I had not looked it up in the owner's manual. She had no idea what it meant and probably wouldn't have looked it up until later. My point is that there are certain instances where manufacturers simply design things poorly, but there are also cases in which drivers blame the car for their own lack of knowledge. Both need to be taken into account when designing a car so that systems not only work properly, but also work in the clearest way so that it's less likely that a driver will misinterpret what the car is trying to say.
it is nerve racking to think... oh great, now what?!
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"FCA recalling 33k vans and SUVs for TPMS problems in two campaigns"- http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/30/fca-recalling-33k-vans-suvs-tire-pressure/
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