When Moab Ate My Front Bumper — and How Encore Automotive Saved My Jeep Cherokee
I’ve got a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD, and let me tell you, this thing has been my pride and joy since the day I drove it off the lot. The black metallic paint still shines like new, and yeah, I baby it. But I also use it the way Jeep intended – dirt, trails, rocks, and the occasional mud bath.
So when Labor Day weekend rolled around, my buddy Jess and I decided to do something we’d been talking about for months – a trip to Moab, Utah, to conquer the Hell’s Revenge trail. If you’ve ever been, you know Moab’s Hell’s Revenge isn’t just another trail; it’s the trail. Rugged, legendary, beautiful, and absolutely unforgiving.
When Moab Bites Back
We were doing great for most of the day – climbing rocks, crawling through ruts, and soaking in that amazing Utah scenery. Then, somewhere along one of the rougher sections, I heard a weird scraping noise, followed by a bump that I could not see before.
The scraping noise went away, and we continued slowly rolling forward, so I pushed the Cherokee a bit further. As the trail leveled off a bit, Jess popped out, looked at the front end, and just started laughing.
“Uh… dude. Your bumper’s gone.”
Yep. Completely gone. My Cherokee’s front bumper had been claimed by Moab. Along with it went the license plate and all four front park distance control sensors. Moab is brutal on stock bumpers — I’d seen other rigs lose theirs too in YouTube ® videos, but I didn’t think I’d be joining that club.
Back Home and Assessing the Damage
After limping back to civilization, I surveyed the mess. Thankfully, the wiring harness was still there – a little pulled forward and beat up, but the connectors were all intact. That was a small victory.
Basically, I needed a new bumper and new park aid sensors to get the Jeep back to its pre-Moab glory.
I found a clean used bumper on eBay pretty quickly. But the parking sensors? That was a different story. The local dealer wanted almost $1500 for a set of four, and it had to be special-ordered. I called a few others, and not a single one had them in stock. They said it’d take over a week to get them shipped in.
That wasn’t going to work for me.
A Trip to O’Reilly Auto Parts Changes Everything
So, I drove down to my local O’Reilly Auto Parts in La Crescenta, CA, to see what I could find from their wide selection of aftermarket parts.
The guy behind the counter showed me a few different options – from cheap $35 sensors that looked like they’d melt in the sun, to something that immediately caught my eye: Encore Automotive PAS-D20008 sensors.
“These are the exact same sensors Jeep uses from the factory,” the clerk chimed in. “Genuine OE parts. Plug-and-play fit. We sell a lot of these, and they’re rock solid.”
I opened the box to check for myself, and sure enough, these weren’t knock-offs. The Encore sensors had proper factory markings, solid build quality, and even the same protective coating and finish as the originals.
They weren’t the cheapest – about $250 each, or $1,000 total for the four — but still way less than buying from the dealer. And the best part? O’Reilly’s had them in stock, no waiting around for shipping. Sold.
Weekend Wrenching — With a Happy Ending
By Thursday, the eBay bumper showed up – surprisingly clean and just needed a nice buff and polish. And, Saturday morning, Jess came over to help me put everything back together. The bumper install took a while (those bolts love to hide), but the Encore Automotive PAS-D20008 parking sensors went in like a dream.
They snapped right into the bumper openings, and the connectors clicked perfectly into the factory harness. We fired up the Jeep – no error codes, no calibration issues, no drama.
By 4 PM, my Cherokee was back together, looking better than ever. The sensors worked flawlessly, and honestly, the Jeep looked great, with no sign of the Moab experience.
Why I’m Now Team Encore
It’s been a couple of months since the install, and the Encore sensors are performing perfectly – even after a few more dirt trail adventures.
Here’s why I’ll stick with Encore Automotive from now on:
- Perfect OE Fit and Finish – These really are genuine OE parts, not “OE-style.”
- Plug-and-Play Installation – No wiring mods, no calibration headaches.
- Factory Performance – They work just like the originals (because they are originals).
- Available Locally – O’Reilly’s had them in stock, no waiting.
- Better Value – Same quality as Jeep OEM sensors, just easier on the wallet.
Next Stop — Rubicon (With a Few Upgrades)
With my Trailhawk back in shape, I’m already planning the next adventure: the Rubicon Trail. But this time, I’m going in better prepared – upgraded suspension, improved ground clearance, and maybe a steel front bumper protector to keep Moab-style surprises to a minimum.
The big takeaway? When something breaks, don’t cheap out on the replacement parts. Whether it’s a Jeep Cherokee parking sensor or any other component, Encore Automotive Genuine OE parts are worth every penny.
Thanks to Encore and O’Reilly Auto Parts, my Cherokee is back to perfect condition — and ready for whatever the trails throw at it next.
Encore Part Info
Part: Encore Automotive PAS-D20008 – Genuine OE Parking Aid Sensor
Where I Got It: O’Reilly Auto Parts, La Crescenta, CA
