IllustrationENGINE WILL SURGE WITHOUT WARNING TO 3000+ RPM, AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL SURGE THEN STALL. CHRYSLER CLAIMS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE.
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
What owners actually said
191 reportsREAR AXLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
ABS PUMP COMPRESSOR IS VERY LOUD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
OFFICE REQUESTS INFORMATION CONCERNING CHILD SAFETY SEAT COMPATIBILITY.
ABS HAS AN INTERMITTENT PUMP FAILURE WHERE THE BOOST PRESSURE DROPS TO NOTHING AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VERY HAND AND LONG BRAKING SITUATIONS. NO APPARENT LEAKS AND THE RESEVOIR IS FULL.
WHILE DRIVING THE JEEP ABOUT 30 MPH, MICHELIN SPARE TIRE EXPLODED IN THE BACK OF THE JEEP. THE BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE TIRE COVER SHEARED OFF. THE ROOF LINER WAS DAMAGED BY THE EXPLOSION. THE DOME LIGHT WAS ALSO DAMAGED. $850.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE JEEP. MICHELIN HAS NOT REPLACED THE TIRE, OR TAKEN …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE JEEP ABOUT 30 MPH, MICHELIN SPARE TIRE EXPLODED IN THE BACK OF THE JEEP. THE BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE TIRE COVER SHEARED OFF. THE ROOF LINER WAS DAMAGED BY THE EXPLOSION. THE DOME LIGHT WAS ALSO DAMAGED. $850.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE JEEP. MICHELIN HAS NOT REPLACED THE TIRE, OR TAKEN RESPONSIBLITY FOR DAMAGES TO THE JEEP. MICHELIN TIRE XW4, MANUFACTURED IN 1988. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION, RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO VIN.
IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT FAILED, CAUSING HIGH ENGINE IDLE PRIOR TO RECALL (90V-177).
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND THERE WAS A FIRE. DRIVER DID NOT DISCOVER FROM WHERE THE FIRE CAME FROM. BUT WAS AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNDER THE HOOD FIRES. *AK
DRIVING THE TRUCK IN CRUISE CONTROL THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER. THE PEDAL WAS HARD. HAS HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. *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