Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 97 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports6 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
97 reports
30,000 miles · Mar 4, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
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 W…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10316792
189,000 miles · Jun 19, 2006
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10160210
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2005
Steering
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
NHTSA ODI #10112826
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10042795
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2003
Tires
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
NHTSA ODI #10019694
75,544 miles · Apr 24, 2003
Seat Belts
JEEP CHEROKEE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED... THE MECHANISM HAS COLLAPSED INSIDE THE BUCKLE.. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS PART OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE OLDER JEEP CHEROKEE SEAT BELT BUCKLES... THIS IS THE SECOND OLDER JEEP THAT WE HAVE OWNER…
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JEEP CHEROKEE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED... THE MECHANISM HAS COLLAPSED INSIDE THE BUCKLE.. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS PART OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE OLDER JEEP CHEROKEE SEAT BELT BUCKLES... THIS IS THE SECOND OLDER JEEP THAT WE HAVE OWNER THAT HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.. THE LAST TIME THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS TIME THEY WON'T AND SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO.. THIS BUCKLE SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE NO MATTER HOW OLD IT GETS UNLESS IT WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED WHICH IT HAS NOT BEEN... FEDERAL MANDATES ARE IN PLACE ON BUCKLES FOR FOREIGN CARS; WHY NOT DOMESTIC CARS TOO... *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016461
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY AFTER CLIMBING GRADES OR QUICK STOPS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763761
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #897626
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Steering
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #750807
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #892611
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
PE89151 · Safety Belt Retractor
Opened Aug 11, 1989 · Closed Dec 11, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
===
PE88029 · Throttle Control
Opened Feb 23, 1988 · Closed Sep 19, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:THE PE WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER JEEP'S RECALL OF CERTAIN1987 MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 LITER FUEL INJECTED 6 CYLINDERENGINE (87V-035) HAD INVOLVED ALL THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES.AREVIEW OF THE ODI FILES HAD INDICATED THAT 1987-1988 JEEP VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH THE 4.O LITER ENGINE ALSO WERE EXPERIENCING SOME THROTTLECONTROL PROBLEM.A REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS AND THE AVAILABLEINCIDENT REPORTS DOES NOT INDICATE THAT A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND EXISTSOR IS DEVELOPING.THE WARRANTY CLAIMS ATTENUATE, AND THE ALLEDGEDINCIDENTS APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS. #===
PE88001 · Fires Caused By Cltch Lk
Opened Oct 23, 1987 · Closed Jan 28, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
1988 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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