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
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.”
“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.”
“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”
“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”
“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 )”
“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”
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.