Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Jeep Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control19
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Steering7
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Power train4
- Seat belts4
- Electrical system4
- Structure3
- Tires2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1987 Cherokee vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1987 Jeep Cherokee failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1987 passenger car (0.78%). Median odometer at inspection: 174,040 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
32 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 69% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde8
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast4
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot3
- Remlicht werkt niet (goed)2
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm2
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk2
- Bandenspanning op 1 as niet gelijk1
- Veerstrop as zit los1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In New Zealand
1 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 Jeep Cherokee.
| 1993071 21 May 1993 | Emissions NOTE: JEEP VEHICLES WITH 4.0 LITRE ENGINES, RENAULT VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITRE ENGINES AND EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES WITH 2.5 AND 3 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO … |
| 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… |
| 1987038 9 Apr 1987 | Engine VEHICLES WITH 4.0 LITRE ENGINES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH OUT-OF- TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLIES WHICH COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE SPEED FROM RETURNING TO IDLE … |
| 1987034 16 Mar 1987 | Engine CRUISE CONTROL MAY NOT HOLD SET POINT. WHEN SET BUTTON IS PRESSED, VEHICLE SPEED WILL HUNT ABOVE AND BELOW SET POINT. INCONSISTENT VEHICLE SPEED COULD RESULT IN… |
| 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 … |
| 1986144 19 Dec 1986 | Fuel System ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0 LITRE I-6 ENGINE, A STUD INSTALLED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY CHAFE ON THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO FUEL L… |
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.
VEHICLE MAY CONTAIN AN OUT OF TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY.
CRUISE CONTROL MODULE COULD HAVE INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION.
A STUD MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE THAT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CHAFING OF THE FUEL HOSE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
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.
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 1987 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 |
| 37855 | NEW FRONT OUTPUT SEAL AND OIL SLINGER FOR TRANSFER CASE. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR
CRUISE CONTROL ERRATIC
STALLING
THROTTLE CONTROL
FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LK
ELEC. REAR WINDOW
HIGH SPEED STALLING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation