Troubleshooting a Blue Ox Patriot 3 Braking System that Won't Release Brakes

Updated 02/17/2026 | Published 06/17/2024

Question:

I have a Blue ox patriot 3 system that i have used for 2 years without issues. Now my towed vehicle rear brakes will not release when trying to flat tow. the blue ox six conductor cable has no shorts or opens. I m suspecting the break away switch is not functioning correctly. Any suggestions? The blue ox box does not have any errors.

asked by: Randall L

Expert Reply:

Have you tried resetting the unit? If not, I recommend giving that a try before you go on replacing anything. What you're going to need to do is power off/unplug the system and wait a bit before powering it back on. Then, push the setup button again to see if that fixes it.

If not, you can also make sure that the push pads are making good contact with the drivers seat and the brake unit is resting against it (without any actual pressure from the seat) and that the claw is securely attached to the brake pedal.

expert reply by: Bryce D

Jesse M.

2/17/2026

Hey, how did things go after you reset the Blue Ox Patriot 3 and checked the push pad contact with the seat? Your results could really help others who run into the same brake release issue.