Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Jeep Cherokee problems
Owners filed 450 complaints about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee with NHTSA between Jan 1996 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (80).
Complaints
450
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
57
Reported by owners
Fires
27
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic80
- Power train59
- Engine and engine cooling55
- Structure41
- Electrical system40
- Steering34
- Suspension29
- Air bags26
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Visibility16
- Tires15
- Seats15
- Vehicle speed control12
- Seat belts11
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
29
65
40
36
89
56
33
18
14
7
5
7
9
4
5
3
4
7
4
3
4
2
4
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 29 |
| 1997 | 65 |
| 1998 | 40 |
| 1999 | 36 |
| 2000 | 89 |
| 2001 | 56 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
80 reports8 crashes2 related recalls
“WHILE BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A GRINDING NOISE, THEN VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION. VEHICLE , SOUDS LKE METAL RUBBING METAL. *TC”
Power train
59 reports20 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THEN BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER STEERING GAUGE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WERE NEEDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Engine and engine cooling
55 reports1 crash6 fires
“ALL OF A SUDEN THIS VERY BAD SHAKING PROBLEM HAS OCCURED AT ABOUT 50 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. MY CETIFIED ASE MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A WEEK NOW - NO LUCK SO FAR. *TR”
Structure
41 reports
“SEVERE RUST ALL OVER THE BODY BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE FRAME. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENTS FAIL AND CRACK, NOW TAKING IN WATER THROUGH CORNERS OF THE ROOF THROUGH RUST HOLES. PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME LIKELY TO SEVER UNDER FURTHER DRIVING. RUST ON THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE CREATED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. PART WAS REPLACED, NO PICTURE.”
Electrical system
40 reports14 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was running rough and then stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact had a mobile mechanic diagnose the vehicle, and it was determined that there was a failure of the manifold. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not running properly and called another mobile mechanic. The second mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that an aftermarket distributor and aftermarket computer had both failed. The contact stated that the distributor and computer were installed previously by another independent mechanic. The contact had purchased the aftermarket parts, Cardone Distributor Part Number 84-4694, and Cardone Computer Part Number: 79-1199 Model Number: 04886961, online. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and declined to stand behind the aftermarket computer and distributor parts. The failure mileage was approximately 223,000.”
Steering
34 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT END SO SEVERELY WE HAD TO SLOW COMPLETELY DOWN AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TO A STOP COMPLETELY. THE JEEP IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I HAVE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS THAT THEY HAVE NAMED IT THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT COULD HAVE MADE US FLIP OVER AND WE COULD HAVE DIED IN A ROLL OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US BEFORE AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SHOCKS, BUT THAT HAS EVIDENTLY NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS FROM WHAT WE READ AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.