1988 Jeep Cherokee Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 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
- Driver assistance2521.9%
- Seat belts2017.5%
- Fuel system1311.4%
- Electrical1311.4%
- Engine97.9%
- Brakes76.1%
- Transmission76.1%
- Steering54.4%
- Interior & seats43.5%
- Tires & wheels43.5%
- Body & structure21.8%
- Exterior lighting21.8%
- Suspension10.9%
- Powertrain (other)10.9%
- Visibility10.9%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LOOSE WIRE IN THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS ALSO REPAIRED TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE. VEHICLE WENT BACKWARD AT HIGH SPEED, AND HIT PARKED VEHICLE. ACCIDENT REPORT STATED VEHICLE WENT 86 FEET, AND HIT PARKED VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. NO INJURIES. $ 2030 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AN IDLE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO CORRECT IT, THE IDLING PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV AT A HIGH RPM FOR A FEW MINUTES.*SLC
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT* THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEAT BELT STRAP DOES NOT LOCK UP. HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HAVE NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THEY SHOULD LOCK UP WHEN VEHICLE BREAKS BUT THEY DO NOT. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRONG FUEL SMELL, THROTLE STICKS, ENGINE SURGE, TOLD BY AAA FUEL INJECTOR RECALL COMING? IF YES, WHEN?
DESIGN OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM SEEMS POOR. MYSELF AND OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FUEL INJECTORS START LEAKING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING, THIS TYPE OF LEAK CAN BE VERY SERIOUS WHEN FUEL SPILLS DOWN ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND POSSIBLE INJURIES.CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND CONTACT ME ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT . I HOPE THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED BY THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
WHEN I COME TO A STOP OR NEAR STOP, AND TURN EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AS I START ENTERING INTO THE INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS ONLY WHEN I HAVE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO START MY TURN. IT HAS ACTUALLY STALLED WHEN I'M NOSE OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL CATCH AGAIN IF I QUICKLY APPLY MORE GAS AND SLIGHTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. A COUPLE TIMES THE JEEP HAS STALLED AND THERE IS TRAFFIC COMING IN THE LANE THAT I'M STALLED IN.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY AFTER CLIMBING GRADES OR QUICK STOPS. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE LURCHED AT HIGH SPEED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO DRIFT BACKWARDS AFTER IT SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK *JB
ONE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE SECOND IS FAILING IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALSO CAUSED ONE ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THE GEAR BOX DROPPED. THERE WAS ANOTHER FRAME WELDED TO THE ORIGINAL FRAME. FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CAR, SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM INTERIOR. STOPPED AND SHUT OFF CAR. HAD IT TOWED IN. REPAIR SHOP FOUND BURNED WIRE IN HANDBRAKE AREA. REPAIRED BUT INSIDE OF CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. CAN'T GET RID OF SMELL.
VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP WHEN THE WIRES FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO SMOKE, AND THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTED. DEALER THINKS THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HARNESS WIRES. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN LOUD NOISE HAD COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. (MODEL PEERLESS FORCE 4) *SCC
I PURCHASED FOUR NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ IN OCTOBER OF 1999. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED, AFTER ALL THE NEWS COVERAGE, THAT ALTHOUGH MY TIRES DO NOT SHOW THE CODE FOR THE DECATUR PLANT, THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING AT THE POINT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THE CRACKING APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE TREAD FAILURE OF FIRSTONES RECALLED TIRES. THIS DEFECT IN SUCH RELATIVELY NEW TIRES IS WORRISOME TO ME ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM IN NO FINANCIAL POSITION TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON MY OWN. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SOON.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE DATE THE PAINT STATED WEARING OFF THE TOP AND ON THE HOOD. CONSUMER INFORMED THAT THE PAINT FOR THAT YEAR WAS FAULTY. *MJS
VEHICLE FRAME BROKE AT STEERING BOX DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR BURNED SEVERAL TIMES.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AXLE BEARINGS SEIZED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .