1991 Jeep Cherokee: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 297 complaints
297
Total Complaints
174,735mi
Median Mileage
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Top Issue
14
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
146,780
25th Percentile
174,735
Median Mileage
184,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
103
Service Brakes
15
Buckle Assembly
13
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Rotor
11
Foundation Components
9
Engine
7
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6
Master Cylinder
6
Severity Assessment
14
Crashes
11
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"THERE IS A GASKET IN SIDE SLAVE CYLINDER THAT IS FREEZING UP, UPON STARTING CAR TRY TO PUTTING IT IN REVERSE, CAR ACCELERATES OUT INTO THE STREET. TT"
"WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CAME ON. TT"
"ABS SYSTEM FAILED, NOTICE SOMETHING WRONG UPON CRANKING VEHICLE, ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, COMPUTER AND ACCUMULATOR IS THE PROBLEM. 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
103 complaints
25th: 165,000 mi
Median: 174,735 mi
75th: 175,000 mi
Service Brakes
15 complaints
25th: 138,390 mi
Median: 174,735 mi
75th: 180,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 40
NY: 39
NJ: 23
MI: 12
VA: 12
CO: 11
IL: 11
OR: 10
OH: 10
MO: 9
Who Files Complaints?
14.1%
Original Owners
85.9%
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 91V023000 | 11/02/1991
BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AND RESULT IN PARTIALLOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY.
REPOSITION BRAKE TUBE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH STEERING SHAFT; ALSO, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED BRAKE TUBES.
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
Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Campaign 90V206000 | 18/12/1990
CONTACT AT FULL JOUNCE MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE TUBE TOCOLLAPSE AND RESTRICT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKEWHICH AFFECTS THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.
REPLACE LEFT REAR BRAKE TUBE WITH TUBE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH BUMPER.
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.
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
Looking for a replacement?
Based on the data above, here are relevant options.
Affiliate link
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