1990 Jeep Cherokee
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1987 | 57 |
| 1988 | 98 |
| 1989 | 191 |
| 1990 | 275 |
| 1991 | 234 |
| 1992 | 114 |
| 1993 | 418 |
| 1994 | 522 |
| 1995 | 610 |
| 1996 | 447 |
| 1997 | 390 |
| 1998 | 399 |
| 1999 | 366 |
| 2000 | 369 |
| 2001 | 229 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2014 | 2642 |
| 2015 | 1784 |
| 2016 | 1404 |
| 2017 | 1328 |
| 2018 | 682 |
| 2019 | 1618 |
| 2020 | 282 |
| 2021 | 153 |
| 2022 | 48 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.
63% of complaints: service brakes — 174 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO VACUUM PUMP FAILURE. CHECKED RECALLS AND SAFETY RECALL #318T WAS ISSUED JULY 1991. CHRYSLER STATES THERE ARE NO PARTS AND THEREFORE WILL NOT EFFECT RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI report, 20141110
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S RESIDENCE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20200303
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20190306
21% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 57 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
S10 DIRECT REPLY- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT REGARDING A CAR ACCIDENT IN ARCADIA, FL IN MARCH 2013.
NHTSA ODI report, 20130828
Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE WAS ON ROAD WHILE THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK
NHTSA ODI report, 20050330
UPON STARTING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AW
NHTSA ODI report, 19950420
12% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 33 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.
FIRE6% of complaints: power train — 17 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.
INJURY6% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 16 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing fuel injection system and injectors.
FIRESAFETY TIMELINE
FAILED ANTILOCK BRAKES
THERE MAY BE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATION FROM CONDENSATION FORMATION THAT CAN PLUG THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FILTER; STRESS CORROSION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SNAP RING HAS BEEN TRACED TO CHLORINE LE
Remedy: REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
Campaign 91V003000 — check if this car was fixed
MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Campaign 90V177000 — check if this car was fixed
STEERING GEAR LOCKUP
IMPROPER INSERTION/CRIMPING OF THE HOSE-TO-END FITTINGS OF THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CAN CAUSE DETACHMENT OF THE HOSE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM, AND DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.
Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE.
Campaign 91V063000 — check if this car was fixed
DRIVESHAFT/UNIV.JOINT FAIL
REAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION
BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPARATION
BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPARATION
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PU
Campaign 96V260000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPR
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.
Campaign 97I002000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMP
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
Campaign 98V005000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1990 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (174 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (57 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (33 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 91V003000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 90V177000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
- Verify recall 91V063000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 96V260000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 97I002000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1990 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1990 Jeep Cherokee is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 63% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1990 Jeep Cherokee have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.