1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1996 Jeep Grand 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 Grand Cherokee Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1989: 5 complaints 1989 1990: 5 complaints 1991: 6 complaints 1992: 3 complaints 1993: 555 complaints 1994: 588 complaints 1994 1995: 719 complaints 1996: 893 complaints 1996 1997: 991 complaints 1998: 1028 complaints 1999: 1638 complaints 1999 2000: 1447 complaints 2001: 883 complaints 2002: 1476 complaints 2003: 761 complaints 2004: 1294 complaints 2004 2005: 2051 complaints 2006: 1280 complaints 2007: 1108 complaints 2008: 733 complaints 2009: 138 complaints 2009 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 1639 complaints 2012: 1637 complaints 2013: 799 complaints 2014: 2367 complaints 2014 2015: 1340 complaints 2016: 306 complaints 2017: 361 complaints 2018: 837 complaints 2019: 356 complaints 2019 2020: 224 complaints 2021: 396 complaints 2022: 247 complaints 2023: 371 complaints 2024: 231 complaints 2024 2025: 59 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026
1996: 893 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19895
19905
19916
19923
1993555
1994588
1995719
1996893
1997991
19981028
19991638
20001447
2001883
20021476
2003761
20041294
20052051
20061280
20071108
2008733
2009138
2010117
20111639
20121637
2013799
20142367
20151340
2016306
2017361
2018837
2019356
2020224
2021396
2022247
2023371
2024231
202559
20268

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 17%

17% of complaints: power train — 150 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 58 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
POWER TRAIN 6%

6% of complaints: power train — 53 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN PARKED, IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, FROM PARK TO REVERSE, LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/ NO EPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960911

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 5%

5% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 44 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4%

4% of complaints: electrical system — 38 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

APPARENTLY SOME FAILURE OCCURED WITH THE JEEP THAT CAUSED SMOKE TO ENTER THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE SMOKE HAD AN ARROMA OF ELECTRICITY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20021010

CAR USUALLY RUNS FINE COLD BUT WHEN IT GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AND IN DANGEROUS MOMENTS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD OR FREEWAY AT ANY SPEED. I LOSE ALL POWERED FUNCTIONS LIKE STEERING AND BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180403

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19960125 — PE (closed 19960628)

SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION

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 19970318 — electrical system

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEAT OPTION. THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE WIRING HARNESS CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT SPRING, A LOW RESISTANCE SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP RESULTIN

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE MEMORY SEAT CONTROL MODULE AND WIRING HARNESS AND A PROTECTIVE SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE SEAT FRAME.

Campaign 97V039000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980202 — suspension

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH "QUADRA-TRAC" TRANSFER CASE, TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE, AND ANY OF 225/70R16, 225/75R16 OR 245/70R15 ROAD TIRES. WHEN THE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE I

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE WITH A FULL SIZED TIRE AND WHEEL.

Campaign 98V006000 — 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

I 20010628 — PE (closed 20011101)

INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE PARK

I 20011101 — EA (closed 20021218)

ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED

I 20020517 — PE (closed 20021016)

HOOD LATCH

R 20020923 — power train

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEP

Campaign 02V053000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20021016 — EA (closed 20040210)

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

R 20030208 — fuel system, gasoline

NAPA AND CARTER REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMPS MANUFACTURED BY OTD, INC., AND DISTRIBUTED BY FEDERAL MOGAL, MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CHECK VALVE. THE PART NUMBERS OF THESE PUMPS ARE P74697M AND P7470

Remedy: IF YOU PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FOR YOUR MY 1995 OR 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AFTER JULY 15, 2002, AND ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THE FUEL PUMP IS ONE OF THOSES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL

Campaign 03E001000 — 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 20080115 — visibility

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN

Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIM

Campaign 07E104000 — 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

I 20091106 — DP (closed 20100823)

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

I 20100823 — PE (closed 20120614)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

R 20140801 — fuel system, gasoline, structure

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in

Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install

Campaign 13V252000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (150 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (58 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (53 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 95V193000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V039000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V006000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V136000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V053000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03E001000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E104000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2025 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ■ 2005 ■ 1999

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

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

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

The most-reported component is power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

12 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.