Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Jeep Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts10
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Steering2
- Suspension2
- Tires1
- Structure1
- Engine and engine cooling1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
36 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde2
- Koplamp met afwijkend lichtbeeld onjuist afgesteld2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen2
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt2
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet1
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht1
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Jeep Cherokee.
| 1989030 7 Mar 1989 | Brakes VEHICLES WITH 2.1 LITRE TURBO DIESEL ENGINES HAVE BRAKE SYSTEM VACUUM TANKS WHICH MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT. SUCH LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER A… |
| 1986143 19 Dec 1986 | Steering VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A STEERING LINKAGE COUPLER WHICH IS OUT OF TOLERANCE. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FRONT END MISALIGNMENT WHICH COULD ADVERSELY … |
| 1986130 20 Nov 1986 | Engine THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BUSHING COULD DISCONNECT FROM THE ACCELERATOR LEVER ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO IDLE. THIS WOULD LEAVE THE DRIVER WITH NO CON… |
| 1985120 30 Oct 1985 | Not Entered VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4-CYLINDER THROTTLE BODY INJECTION ENGINE MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY CONNECTED FUEL LINE FITTING WHICH COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED. THIS COUL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR CANISTERS MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT.
STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS REMAINED IN ACID ETCHING BATH TOO LONG. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COUPLERS COULD BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL MISALIGNMENT WITH EVENTUAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
ACCELERATOR CABLE BUSHING COULD DISCONNECT FROM THE ACCELERATOR LEVER ASSEMBLY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ENGINE CONTROL WITH ENGINE RETURNING TO IDLE.
JEEPS MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY CONNECTED FUEL LINE FITTING WHICH COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AND CAUSE GASOLINE TO BE SPILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE FUEL LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, SPILLS GASOLINE AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE OR EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jeep told its dealers about the 1986 Jeep Cherokee: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633948 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC |
| 600604 | SUBJECT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION #733--BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK. *YC |
| 39539 | REDESIGNED LIFTGATE LATCH. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR
FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LK
ELEC. REAR WINDOW
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation