IllustrationTHE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES & THROTTLE WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *AK
1989 Jeep Cherokee
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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
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: 10 of 191 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
45 reportsABS SYSTEM REPEATEDLY FAILS, EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK DONE. CHRYSLER ONLY PAYS FOR 1ST REPAIR. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPACED 5 TIMES IN 4 YRS. CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE RECALL FOR THIS PART. THEY ARE WRONG!!! THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THIS PART HAS MANY TIMES CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERAT…
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ABS SYSTEM REPEATEDLY FAILS, EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK DONE. CHRYSLER ONLY PAYS FOR 1ST REPAIR. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPACED 5 TIMES IN 4 YRS. CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE RECALL FOR THIS PART. THEY ARE WRONG!!! THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THIS PART HAS MANY TIMES CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL!!!
NO PROBLEMS WERE SUGGESTED BY ANY DEALER IN MY AREA SOUGHT OUT (TWO DEALERS),PROBLEMS IN THESE REPORTS THAT I HAVE FILED WERE FIXED BY MY SELF(OWNER)''''. PLEASE ADVISE FOR RECOURSE IF ANY? NO DEFECT (S) MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 97V1002000 PROBLEM UNTIL OTHER PARTS WERE PAID FOR. *AK
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR EXPERIENCED FAILURE CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE. HOWEVER CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIUE RECALL NOTICE (90V177000), DENIED DUE TO VIN #,WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT. *YC
IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE HIGH ENGINE IDLE OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FUIRTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE REPORT WHICH CAME BACK TO ME ON THIS PROBLEM WAS NUMBERED, CAMPAIGN ID #90V177000. THE FAILED PART IS "THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE CHRYSLER CORP. HAD TO PROVIDE THIS RECALL, BUT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL HISTORY ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THERES BEEN A FEW. WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW …
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THE REPORT WHICH CAME BACK TO ME ON THIS PROBLEM WAS NUMBERED, CAMPAIGN ID #90V177000. THE FAILED PART IS "THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE CHRYSLER CORP. HAD TO PROVIDE THIS RECALL, BUT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL HISTORY ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THERES BEEN A FEW. WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS IF I CAN GET THESE PROBLEMS OR PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE IT BECOMES AN ACCIDENT, BY THAT I MEAN THAT THE ENGINE KEEPS RACING AFTER I START IT, I HAD THE IDLE MOTOR REPLACED AT 179.00 DOLLARS AND ITS STILL RACING OR IDLING FAST. THANK YOU.
WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ENGINE IS NOT FULLY WARMED UP, THE RPMS DROP, APPEARS AS IF VEHICLE IS STALLING, THE IT SURGES UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD A LITTLE UNLESS DRIVER HOLDS DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO WHEN DRIVING AT FULL SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/BUCKS FOR NO REASON.
THE THROTTLE WOULD KEEP STICKING. IT SHIFTED ERRATICALLY ON ITS OWN & REVVED UP. THE SPEED COULD VARY FOR PROBLEM TO EXIST. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN PARK POSITION,CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON BRAKES TO CHANGE GEAR. THE MOMENT IT WENT INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *AK
Official recalls
396V260000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Dec 27, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
91V003000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 2, 1991
THERE MAY BE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATION FROM CONDENSATION FORMATION THAT CAN PLUG THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FILTER; STRESS CORROSION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SNAP RING HAS BEEN TRACED TO CHLORINE LEAKING FROM THE LOW PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO BREAK; FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WHICH MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERCYLINDER SNAP RING, RESULTING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE; FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKEHOSE DUE TO HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WILL CAUSE FAILURE OF ONE HALF OF THEBRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN EXPECTED.
Remedy: REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
90V177000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
Oct 2, 1990
MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
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
3PE93057 · Driveshaft/univ.joint Fail
Opened Jun 14, 1993 · Closed Oct 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA90024 · Failed Antilock Brakes
Opened Apr 26, 1990 · Closed Jan 14, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE90033 · Failed Antilock Brakes
Opened Jan 16, 1990 · Closed Apr 26, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available