1996 Jeep CherokeeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 447 owner complaints about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 6 safety recalls.

CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Cherokee median · #9 of 27 years by complaints

Safety recalls6Free fix at dealers Owner complaints447109 with a crash, fire or injury Typical failure mileage66kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 20, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Jeep Cherokee has problems

447 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

86Service brakes, hydraulic9 crash/fire/injury

60Power train22 crash/fire/injury

54Engine and engine cooling7 crash/fire/injury

47Structure2 crash/fire/injury

43Electrical system14 crash/fire/injury

37Steering3 crash/fire/injury

31Suspension

26Air bags

21Fuel system, gasoline

11918 other systems15 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic	86	9
Power train	60	22
Engine and engine cooling	54	7
Structure	47	2
Electrical system	43	14
Steering	37	3
Suspension	31	4
Air bags	26	22
Fuel system, gasoline	21	1
18 other systems	119	15

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

1996 Jeep Cherokee recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

no report yet

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Recall 11V-279 · May 6, 2011 · 1,126 vehicles

Risk. INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

no report yet

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Recall 08V-056 · Feb 6, 2008 · 107 vehicles

Risk. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

no report yet

Disc: rotor

Recall 00V-136 · May 10, 2000 · 589,000 vehicles

Risk. THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

no report yet

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Recall 97V-069 · Apr 28, 1997 · 2,500 vehicles

Risk. DUE TO HIGH STEERING LOAD EVENTS, VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT BROKEN STEERING GEAR ATTACHING BOLTS OR FRAME RAIL CRACKING AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHING POINT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls

no report yet

Seat belts: rear/other

Recall 97V-040 · Mar 17, 1997 · 77,000 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

no report yet

Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers

Recall 95V-193 · Oct 11, 1995 · 32,000 vehicles

Risk. IMPROPER CLAMPING CAN RESULT IN ARCING AT THE CONNECTION POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.

Best & worst years

1996 vs. every other Cherokee year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cherokee median. How we score

0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 7 17 21 57 97 19127023311341851960844739039836636922917 2,6521,7941,4151,3426921,68333718352 3 9

'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'06'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

NHTSA crash tests

1996 Jeep Cherokee safety ratings

1996 Jeep Cherokee 4-DR 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

Stability control: No
Forward collision warning: No
Lane departure warning: No

1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, and the recalls they led to.

Jun 12, 2012
Crash Related Fuel Tank FiresEA12005 · closed Nov 14, 2014
Led to recall 13V-252

In owners' words

What Cherokee owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

BRAKE FLUID LINE CORROSION. IF IT CORRODES THROUGH, BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. LOSE REAR BRAKES. NO FAILURE YET. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. *TR
Complaint 10249584 · Nov 23, 2008 · 100,000 miles

WHILE BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A GRINDING NOISE, THEN VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION. VEHICLE, SOUDS LKE METAL RUBBING METAL. *TC
Complaint 10089912 · Nov 3, 2004 · 66,000 miles

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE BRAKE RECALL. IT SEEMS THAT THEY DID WHAT THE RECALL REQUIRED BUT SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *LA
Complaint 10047521 · Nov 25, 2003 · 38,000 miles

Own a 1996 Cherokee?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.