1990 Jeep Cherokee: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 368 complaints
368
Total Complaints
142,868mi
Median Mileage
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Top Issue
18
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
119,900
25th Percentile
142,868
Median Mileage
195,492
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
102
Vehicle Speed Control
40
Rotor
14
Gasoline
12
Foundation Components
12
Cruise Control
12
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
8
Master Cylinder
6
Service Brakes
6
Severity Assessment
18
Crashes
12
Fires
15
Injuries
6
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON CAUSING NO RESPONSE FROM THE SYSTEM. PLEASE LIST AND DESCRIBE OTHER PROBLEMS. TT"
"THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (90V-177). *AK"
"4TH THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TT"
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
102 complaints
25th: 132,900 mi
Median: 136,000 mi
75th: 137,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 75
IL: 35
NJ: 23
MA: 20
TX: 18
NY: 18
PA: 17
VA: 14
MD: 12
WI: 11
Who Files Complaints?
14.7%
Original Owners
85.3%
Second+ Owners
Jeep Cherokee — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (9)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Headlights
Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Campaign 91V003000 | 02/10/1991
CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERCYLINDER SNAP RING, RESULTING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE; FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKEHOSE DUE TO HOSE TO T
REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Campaign 91V063000 | 15/04/1991
DETACHMENT OF THE HOSE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSES THELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION AND HYDRAULIC BRAKE ASSIST, LEAVING ONLY MANUAL BRAKESAND DECREASING STOPPING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DISCHARGE OFHYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE AREA OF THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINECOMPARTME
REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Campaign 96V260000 | 27/12/1996
IF THIS OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION WOULD BE LOSE AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT AND THE BASE MANUAL BRAKES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL.
DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS
Rotor
Campaign 98V005000 | 12/01/1998
THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
Accelerator Pedal
Campaign 97I002000 | 02/05/1997
PEDAL MISAPPLICATION BY A DRIVER CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.
Cruise Control
Campaign 90V177000 | 02/10/1990
HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Extend Your Brake Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
- Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
- Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
- Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
- Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28