1996 Jeep Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1996 Jeep Cherokee
BUILT 2026-08-02

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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Jeep Cherokee Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1980: 1 complaints 1980 1981: 1 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1985 1986: 21 complaints 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 97 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 270 complaints 1990 1991: 233 complaints 1992: 113 complaints 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 519 complaints 1995: 608 complaints 1995 1996: 447 complaints 1996 1997: 390 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2636 complaints 2015: 1776 complaints 2016: 1398 complaints 2016 2017: 1323 complaints 2018: 678 complaints 2019: 1582 complaints 2020: 258 complaints 2021: 136 complaints 2021 2022: 44 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
1996: 447 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19820
19830
19847
198517
198621
198757
198897
1989191
1990270
1991233
1992113
1993418
1994519
1995608
1996447
1997390
1998399
1999366
2000369
2001229
200617
20142636
20151776
20161398
20171323
2018678
20191582
2020258
2021136
202244
20233
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13%

13% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 60 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%

5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 23 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
POWER TRAIN 4%

4% of complaints: power train — 20 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4%

4% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 19 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
AIR BAGS 4%

4% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN APPLY THE BRAKE IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD .

NHTSA ODI report, 19960118

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19960220 — electrical system

THE FASTENERS WHICH SECURE THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT FUSE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER CLAMP LOAD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR FUSE WITH A FUSE LINK AND ANY DAMAGE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER WILL BE REPAIRED.

Campaign 95V193000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970324 — seat belts

THE WEB MOUNTED REAR SEAT BELT INBOARD ANCHOR POSITIONS MAY NOT ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED LOAD OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A WASHER TO EACH REAR INBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR ATTACHMENT.

Campaign 97V040000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970620 — steering

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 CU

Campaign 97V069000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000605 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 00V136000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060320 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAN

Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-32

Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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

R 20080312 — electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility

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;' N

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 BASI

Campaign 08V056000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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

R 20110912 — exterior lighting

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. 10

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 12

Campaign 11V279000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (60 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (23 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (20 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 95V193000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V040000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V069000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V136000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V056000 (electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V279000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 1987 ▲ 1988

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ■ 2015 ■ 2019

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Jeep Cherokee reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Jeep Cherokee is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Jeep Cherokee?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Jeep Cherokee have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.