Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1989 Jeep Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic86
- Vehicle speed control45
- Fuel system, gasoline15
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Electrical system13
- Power train9
- Structure7
- Seat belts7
- Unknown or other6
- Suspension6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1989 Cherokee vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 1989 Jeep Cherokee failed the safety check 1.23% of the time — 53% more often than the average 1989 passenger car (0.81%). Median odometer at inspection: 166,008 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
49 first registered in 1989 are on Dutch roads; 67% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot7
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm5
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse5
- Band onvoldoende profiel4
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling4
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie werkt niet3
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen3
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast3
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 1989 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
In New Zealand
1 1989 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 1989 Jeep Cherokee.
| 1996179 12 Nov 1996 | Brakes Vehicles with ABS brakes may experience premature actuator piston seal wear in the ABS hydraulic control unit and/or actuator pump motor deterioration. If this … |
| 1995062 7 Apr 1995 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEF… |
| 1994195 12 Dec 1994 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CORRECTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGE… |
| 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 … |
| 1991018 29 Jan 1991 | Engine ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4 LITRE ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) CAN RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT HIGH IDLE CONDI… |
| 1991007 9 Jan 1991 | Brakes ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND INSTALLATION OF THE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTAMINATE THE … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
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 1989 Jeep Cherokee: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633948 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 607963 | INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 600862 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK |
| 600604 | SUBJECT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION #733--BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK. *YC |
| 52963 | VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC |
| 51942 | DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW |
| 43047 | UNKNOWN |
| 39539 | REDESIGNED LIFTGATE LATCH. *TW |
| 39263 | FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR, PCV HOSE (YJ ONLY), TRANSFER CASE VACUUM HOSE AND /OR FUEL TANK VENT VALVE BOOT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD MAY PRODUCE AN EXHAUST LEAK NOISE. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE THE FAULTY COMPONENTS WITH THE NEW EMISSION SERVICE PACKAGE. *TW |
| 39015 | IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN EMISSION RELATED COMPONENTS OF THE 1989 JEEP EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE, MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. HYDROCARBONS, CARBON MONOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN COULD BE ABOVE THE ALLOWABLE LIMITS, WHICH WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE DANGERS OF AIR POLLUTION. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, CRANKCASE VENTILATION HOSE AND IF EQUIPPED, THE TRANSFER CASE VACUUM HOSE AND FUEL TANK VENT BOOT. IN ADDITION |
| 39013 | IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR ON CERTAIN 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE, COMANCHE AND WRANGLER MODELS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR MAY CAUSE YOUR VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. *TW |
| 39012 | SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #556. *TW |
| 37855 | NEW FRONT OUTPUT SEAL AND OIL SLINGER FOR TRANSFER CASE. *TW |
| 10150552 | Child Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child Seat Tether Anchors based on Customer Request. Retrofits are subject to part availability. Vehicles in the following list that are marked **** for the model year are no longer supported with OEM retrofit kits. NOTE: Dealers are encouraged to honor any customers? request for the installation of the Child Seat Tether Anchors and Dealer reimbursement will be made by FCA US LLC regardless of vehicle age or mileage. See the Warranty Policy and Procedure Manual and/or Warranty Bulletin D-08-33 for reimburseme |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DRIVESHAFT/UNIV.JOINT FAIL
FAILED ANTILOCK BRAKES
FAILED ANTILOCK BRAKES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation