← New search

1988 Jeep Cherokee

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 113.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Cherokee years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
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 · Jul 6, 2001
Electrical System

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 MO…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #747950

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

PARKED JEEP AND WIRING CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO REASON THERE WERE NO INDICTIONS OF A SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742353

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN, AND AM STOPPED,AND I HAVE TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SLIGHTLY TURNED AND I RELEASE THE FOOT BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETLEY STALL, UNLESS I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN IT MAY CATCH AND START RUNNING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHICH DIRECT…

Read full complaint

WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN, AND AM STOPPED,AND I HAVE TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SLIGHTLY TURNED AND I RELEASE THE FOOT BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETLEY STALL, UNLESS I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN IT MAY CATCH AND START RUNNING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION I ATTEMPT TO TURN AND THE STALLING MAY PUT ME A FEW FEET OUT INTO THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE SHIFT GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WILL EIMMEDIATELY START. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE ENGINE WILL EVER STALL, BUT IT PUTS ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH THE STALLING AND THE CERTAIN POSITION THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I THINK I REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT FORD ALSO HAD SOMEWHAT SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENGINE STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING AND ACCIDENTS HAPPENING. HAS JEEP EVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS SUCH AS WHAT I HAVE? AS IS, I CAN NOT DEPEND ON ENTERING A TRAFFIC PATTERN EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT IF I WILL NEED TO READILY GET INTO THE DESIRED LANE, FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND I'LL GET HIT BY SOMEONE WHO FAILS TO NOTICE THAT I HAVE STALLED OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735666

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 1996 WIRING HARNESESS IN ENGINE HAVE CRIMP CONNECTORS COVERED WITH STANDARD OFF THE SHIEF DUCT TAPE . THIS IS FACTORY AND DEALER SAID THIS WAS DONE AT MANUFACTURE. THE TAPE HAS DRY ROTTED AND PROVIDES NO PROTECTION. 4 TIMES WIRES HAVE GROUNDED OUT TWICE CAUSING SMALL FIRES. ALL VEHICLES OF THIS ERA HAVE…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 1996 WIRING HARNESESS IN ENGINE HAVE CRIMP CONNECTORS COVERED WITH STANDARD OFF THE SHIEF DUCT TAPE . THIS IS FACTORY AND DEALER SAID THIS WAS DONE AT MANUFACTURE. THE TAPE HAS DRY ROTTED AND PROVIDES NO PROTECTION. 4 TIMES WIRES HAVE GROUNDED OUT TWICE CAUSING SMALL FIRES. ALL VEHICLES OF THIS ERA HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND MOST OF THE VEHICLES IN SALVAGE YARDS HAVE EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE FROM THESE CONNECTIONS. I REPAIRED EVERY CONNECTION AND SAVED THE FAILED CONNECTORS FOR EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH PURPOSES.

NHTSA ODI #733043

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #729147

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Electrical System

CAR KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN

NHTSA ODI #711911

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #544157

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1999
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #834397

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1998
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #534554

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.===