RoadVitals

1986 Jeep Cherokee Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest May 8, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Jeep Cherokee, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Seat belts1043.5%
  • Driver assistance313.0%
  • Brakes313.0%
  • Steering28.7%
  • Suspension28.7%
  • Tires & wheels14.3%
  • Engine14.3%
  • Body & structure14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

IN COLD WEATHER FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FELL APART. DEALER HAS REPAIRED SEAT BELT TWICE, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK CONSUMER EXAMINED PIECES IN QUESTION AND FOUND THAT THEY CONTAINED PLASTIC PARTS AND IS QUESTIONING HOW PLASTIC COULD BE STRONG IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID 880432 · filed Feb 13, 2001

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT COVER BROKE OFF WHILE IT WAS BEING USED. REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO LATCH IT. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED BUCKLE WAS REPAIRABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 879635 · filed Feb 1, 2001
All 10 reports naming seat belts

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 WITH THE INTENTIONS OF MAKING A VEHICLE TO USE IN THE WINTER FOR BAD WEATHER OR VERY BAD SNOW. HERE ARE ISSUES I FACE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY ONCE I REACH SPEEDS OVER 35MPH. IT GOES WELL PASS THE 85MPH MARK AND BACK DOWN TO 15MPH AND BOUNCE ALL BETWEEN. THE VEHICLE IS SO OUT OF ALIGNMENT ITS DANGEROUS. ALL THE FLOOR BOARDS HAVE BEEN RUSTED THROUGH ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SEATS. THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS 1/2 MISSING, AND ALL FLOOR BOARDS ARE EXTREMELY WEEK.THE DRIVER SIDE HAS A POP-RIVETED FLOORBOARD IN AND IS VERY STRONG BUT THE BOTTOM HAS BEEN RUSTED THROUGH SHOWING THE BOTTOM OF IT,AND THE SIDES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHOLES. WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TO REPLACE THE RADIO,I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE CARPET TO INSTALL A NEW GROUND.PART OF THE FLOORBOARD FELL OUT CUTTING VERY DEEP INTO MY LEG.THE FLOORBOARDS WERE BEARING MY WEIGHT WITH NO ADDED FORCE WHATSOEVER. WHEN I REMOVED THE REST OF THE CARPET I WAS DISTRAUGHT TO SEE HOW RUSTED THE FLOOR PANELS WERE AND TO WHAT EXTENT.I INSPECTED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CLOSER,AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME IS IN VERY POOR SHAPE AND RUSTED THROUGH ALSO. THE WHOLE EXHAUST FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADERS TO THE VERY BACK OF THE EXHAUST, HAS BEEN RUSTED AND THE MUFFLER BROKE OFF JUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER. ON THE WAY THE FRAME IN THE REAR NEAR THE GAS TANK,IS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FRAME WHERE THE TOWING BRACKETS ARE BOLTED ON HAS BROKE AND PEELED LIKE A BANANA AND HANGS LOOSE SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN FRAME BY AT LEAST 1/4" - 1/2". VERY POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE MAKING OF AN OFFROAD VEHICLE LIKE THIS.I AM A CERTIFIED WELDER AND WELD PROFESSIONALLY BUT THIS WILL TAKE A MONTH TO REPAIR AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THESE SAFETY ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10587229 · filed May 8, 2014

THE ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID 802510 · filed Oct 7, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER BRAKES BOOSTER . HARD TO STOP VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 8009523 · filed May 9, 2002

WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES PUT ON MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BACK BRAKES WERE DOWN TO RIVETS, AND WILL START TEARING INTO THE DRUMS. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS WHY VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID VERY BADLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID 891914 · filed Jul 3, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 WITH THE INTENTIONS OF MAKING A VEHICLE TO USE IN THE WINTER FOR BAD WEATHER OR VERY BAD SNOW. HERE ARE ISSUES I FACE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY ONCE I REACH SPEEDS OVER 35MPH. IT GOES WELL PASS THE 85MPH MARK AND BACK DOWN TO 15MPH AND BOUNCE ALL BETWEEN. THE VEHICLE IS SO OUT OF ALIGNMENT ITS DANGEROUS. ALL THE FLOOR BOARDS HAVE BEEN RUSTED THROUGH ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SEATS. THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS 1/2 MISSING, AND ALL FLOOR BOARDS ARE EXTREMELY WEEK.THE DRIVER SIDE HAS A POP-RIVETED FLOORBOARD IN AND IS VERY STRONG BUT THE BOTTOM HAS BEEN RUSTED THROUGH SHOWING THE BOTTOM OF IT,AND THE SIDES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHOLES. WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TO REPLACE THE RADIO,I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE CARPET TO INSTALL A NEW GROUND.PART OF THE FLOORBOARD FELL OUT CUTTING VERY DEEP INTO MY LEG.THE FLOORBOARDS WERE BEARING MY WEIGHT WITH NO ADDED FORCE WHATSOEVER. WHEN I REMOVED THE REST OF THE CARPET I WAS DISTRAUGHT TO SEE HOW RUSTED THE FLOOR PANELS WERE AND TO WHAT EXTENT.I INSPECTED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CLOSER,AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME IS IN VERY POOR SHAPE AND RUSTED THROUGH ALSO. THE WHOLE EXHAUST FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADERS TO THE VERY BACK OF THE EXHAUST, HAS BEEN RUSTED AND THE MUFFLER BROKE OFF JUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER. ON THE WAY THE FRAME IN THE REAR NEAR THE GAS TANK,IS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FRAME WHERE THE TOWING BRACKETS ARE BOLTED ON HAS BROKE AND PEELED LIKE A BANANA AND HANGS LOOSE SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN FRAME BY AT LEAST 1/4" - 1/2". VERY POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE MAKING OF AN OFFROAD VEHICLE LIKE THIS.I AM A CERTIFIED WELDER AND WELD PROFESSIONALLY BUT THIS WILL TAKE A MONTH TO REPAIR AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THESE SAFETY ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10587229 · filed May 8, 2014

ONGOING STEERING PROBLEM REPORTED BY PREVIOUS OWNER & EXPERIENCED BY PRESENT OWNER; STEERING WANDER, ESP. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, ALL PARTS UNDAMAGED OR REPLACED INC. TIE RODS, STRUTS, SHOCKS, BUSHINGS, ETC...; ALIGNMENT TO SPECS WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID 735894 · filed Nov 7, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ONGOING STEERING PROBLEM REPORTED BY PREVIOUS OWNER & EXPERIENCED BY PRESENT OWNER; STEERING WANDER, ESP. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, ALL PARTS UNDAMAGED OR REPLACED INC. TIE RODS, STRUTS, SHOCKS, BUSHINGS, ETC...; ALIGNMENT TO SPECS WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID 735894 · filed Nov 7, 2000

DRIVER HEARD A POP AT 50 MPH, AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND SLIP TO A STOP. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE WHEEL AND AXLE HAD COME OFF THE VEHICLE AND COME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN ONE WEEK.

NHTSA ID 536667 · filed Jun 5, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER HAS A 1986 JEEP COMANCHE WITH 19,000 ON REAR TIRES & 24,000 ON FRONT TIRES, CENTER OF THE TIRE WAS SEPARATING, FIRESTONE FR360 P215/75R15, FIRESTONE DEALER DIDN'T PRORATE TIRES BECAUSE OF WEAR.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 874031 · filed Oct 27, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.

NHTSA ID 512225 · filed Dec 4, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REAR TAILGATE POPPED OPEN IN A REAR COLLISION , EJECTING CONSUMER 80FT. TT

NHTSA ID 962164 · filed Mar 17, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .