Problems · by component

1996 Jeep Cherokee air bags problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee cite air bags, 6% of all 450 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
6% of all complaints
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A COMPLETE STOP, A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A FOREGOING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK LOCATION COULD BE A GREATER DANGER IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REAR END CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2013Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10519511
“CONSUMER STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISON WITH HIS JEEP AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE ALSO STATES SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND HIT A TREE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2002Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10001078
“CAR HYDROPLANED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. LUCKILY THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE OF THE JEEP POPPED OFF ON IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT. FIRST DEFECT: BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW OF THE LIFTGATE. SECOND DEFECT: AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CAN'T GIVE TRUE ESTIMATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SINCE ALL MEDICAL BILLS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY HEALTH PROVIDERS. $ 5,412 WORTH OF PERSONAL PROPERTY (JEWELRY AND OTHER) LOST DURING IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2000Air bags, SeatsCrash reportedODI 737653
“WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND DID NOT STOP. VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER DID NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY RECALL 0013600 ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2000Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 863788
“JEEP WAS STRUCK ON PASSENGERS SIDE, JEEP STRUCK ANOTHER TRUCK HEAD-ON, HITTING MORE OF THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE, CAUSING HOOD DAMAGE/BROKEN WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVERS GEARS TO COME OUT. DRIVER BROKE STERNUM IN TWO PLACES DUE TO SAFETY BELT NOT WORKING AND AIRBAGS NOT COMING OUT. JEEP WAS TOTALLED OUT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R16 )”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 1999Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 715813
“CONSUMER REARENED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A 35-45 MPH IMPACT WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SAFETY A HAZARD. VEHICLE SUSTAINED $7,000 OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALONE. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 1999Air bagsCrash reportedODI 850728

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.