MYRModel Year Report

1994 Jeep Cherokee

◆ Worse than typical
1994 Jeep Cherokee
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than 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.

How is this computed?

Complaints
522
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 1994

Investigations
9

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Structure

40% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1985 1986: 21 complaints 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 275 complaints 1990 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1994 522 1995: 610 complaints 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2016: 1,408 complaints 2016 2017: 1,334 complaints 2018: 685 complaints 2019: 1,642 complaints 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 7 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1983 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1986: 21 complaints 1986 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1989 1990: 275 complaints 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1992 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1994 522 1995: 610 complaints 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1998 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2001: 229 complaints 2001 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2015 2016: 1,408 complaints 2017: 1,334 complaints 2018: 685 complaints 2018 2019: 1,642 complaints 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 7 complaints 2026
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1982 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1984 1985: 17 complaints 1986: 21 complaints 1986 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1988 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 275 complaints 1990 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1992 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1994 522 1995: 610 complaints 1996: 447 complaints 1996 1997: 390 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1998 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2006 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2015 2016: 1,408 complaints 2017: 1,334 complaints 2017 2018: 685 complaints 2019: 1,642 complaints 2019 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2023 2026: 7 complaints

1994: 522 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19820
19830
19847
198517
198621
198757
198898
1989191
1990275
1991234
1992114
1993418
1994522
1995610
1996447
1997390
1998399
1999366
2000369
2001229
200617
20142,648
20151,787
20161,408
20171,334
2018685
20191,642
2020307
2021166
202249
20233
20267

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Structure

40% · 207 reports

Most commonly citing hinge and attachments and door.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

My mother was rear ended which caused the frame including the seat to completely not hold together,, my mother was ejected from the vehicle as it proceeded to roll over,, killing her instantly.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-07-27

Also filed under Seats

Engine and engine cooling

16% · 84 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

FIREINJURY

Service brakes

13% · 68 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

8% · 40 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Vehicle speed control

7% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing linkages and accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle was at a stop in idle position, when put into gear vehicle went into open throttle position, impact 12:00 speed unknown going thru garage door.…

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-02-22

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 9 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1993-11-23Seat belts93V161000 The two rear inboard safety belt attachment bolts may have inadequate thread engagement into the floor pan anchor nuts.

    Remedy: Replace the two inboard safety belt anchor bolts with longer bolts on all vehicles.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    1994Complaint volume 522 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. I
    1995-08-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 1996-01-26 Rear axle shaft separation
  4. I
    1995-11-17Defect petitionClosed 1995-12-05 Vehicle sudden acceleration
  5. I
    1997-03-20Recall queryClosed 1998-09-18 Steering column assembly
  6. R
    1997-06-20Steering97V069000 During assembly of the frame, a fillet weld that joins the inner steering gear attachment reinforcement to the frame rail, was omitted.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for cracks in the frame rail. Vehicles that show cracks will be equipped with reinforcement plates. Vehicles that are found to be free of cracks will have a slot…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    1998-11-13Recall queryOpen Brake rotor disc/hub separation
  9. I
    1999-06-28Engineering analysisClosed 2000-03-28 Brake roter disc/hud separation
  10. R
    1999-12-20Service brakes, hydraulic99V340000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. I
    2000-05-26SQClosed 2001-01-24 Door hinge
  12. I
    2001-01-24Engineering analysisClosed 2002-07-15 Door hinge
  13. I
    2002-04-25Defect petitionClosed 2002-09-10 Sudden acceleration
  14. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2008-03-12Electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility08V056000 U.S. Drive right is recalling 107 my 1994-1998 right hand drive, 4-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 101, 'controls and displays;'…

    Remedy: U.S. Drive right will make all the required modifications. A representative will travel to the customer's location and make the modifications on site. The recall will be performed on a regional…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. R
    2011-09-12Exterior lighting11V279000 U.S. Drive right is recalling certain model year 1994-1996 Jeep Cherokee vehicles imported from January 2007, through April 2011 for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no.…

    Remedy: U.S. Drive right will notify owners and mail kits along with instructions to have the vehicle repaired by a qualified mechanic of their choice, free of charge. The safety recall began on September…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. I
    2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Structure: 207 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 84 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 68 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 93V161000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 97V069000 · Steering
  • Recall 97I002000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 99V340000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08V056000 · Electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 11V279000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Jeep Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported component is structure, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 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.