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
- 275
- Recalls
- 9
- Investigations
- 6
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 1990
Opened by NHTSA
63% of complaints
Complaints per year
1990: 275 complaints
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 | 2,648 |
| 2015 | 1,787 |
| 2016 | 1,408 |
| 2017 | 1,334 |
| 2018 | 685 |
| 2019 | 1,642 |
| 2020 | 307 |
| 2021 | 166 |
| 2022 | 49 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
63% · 174 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic and air.
Show 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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2014-11-10
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, 2020-03-03
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, 2019-03-06
Vehicle speed control
21% · 57 reportsMost commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.
Show 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, 2013-08-28
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2005-03-30
Upon starting vehicle, vehicle suddenly accelerated backwards, causing accident/injury.
NHTSA ODI report, 1995-04-20
Engine and engine cooling
12% · 33 reportsMost commonly citing gasoline and engine.
Power train
6% · 17 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.
Fuel system, gasoline
6% · 16 reportsMost commonly citing fuel injection system and injectors.
Safety timeline
9 recalls · 6 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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I
1990-04-26Engineering analysisClosed 1991-01-14 Failed antilock brakes
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R
1991-03-07Service brakes, hydraulic91V003000 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…
Remedy: Replace ABS low pressure hose; rebuild master brake cylinder; inspect, service interference problems, and replace front brake hose as necessary.
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R
1991-03-14Vehicle speed control90V177000 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.
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I
1991-04-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 1991-06-14 Steering gear lockup
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1991-07-26Service brakes, hydraulic91V063000 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.
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I
1993-06-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 1993-10-29 Driveshaft/univ.joint fail
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I
1995-08-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 1996-01-26 Rear axle shaft separation
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1996-09-05Preliminary evaluationClosed 1997-01-13 Brake disc/hub separation
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1997-01-13Engineering analysisClosed 1998-01-09 Brake disc/hub separation
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1997-04-24Service brakes, hydraulic96V260000 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…
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…
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1997-09-15Vehicle speed control97I002000 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…
Remedy: Dealers will install a shift interlock on the automatic transmission of these vehicles.
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1998-03-09Service brakes, hydraulic98V005000 Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, new…
Remedy: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
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2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…
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.
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2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…
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.
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2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…
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.
Buy-smart checklist
1990 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 174 reports on file for this year.
- Vehicle speed control: 57 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 33 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 91V003000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 90V177000 · Vehicle speed control
- Recall 91V063000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 96V260000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 97I002000 · Vehicle speed control
- Recall 98V005000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →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 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.