Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic86
- Power train60
- Engine and engine cooling54
- Structure47
- Electrical system43
- Steering37
- Suspension31
- Air bags26
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Visibility16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 27 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 24 1996 Cherokee vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 12 people died inside them, and 7 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 1996 Jeep Cherokee failed the safety check 1.56% of the time — 7% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 173,739 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
54 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 61% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm41
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld21
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen17
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot15
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde12
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast9
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname8
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
124 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 468 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 129 of these cars first registered in 1996 took their annual MOT test. 63% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1996 the figure was 65%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 14.7% | 11.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.2% | 16.1% |
| Suspension | 10.1% | 11.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.8% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 7.8% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.4% | 6.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
89 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 65% arrived as used imports, 35% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 12.5–15.9 L/100 km (about 15–19 mpg US), CO₂ 288–366 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 11.1 | 12.5 |
| Cherokee 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 11.8 | 13.0 |
| Cherokee · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 11.2 | 13.1 |
| Cherokee 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 11.8 | 13.6 |
| Cherokee · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.9 | 12.1 | 14.8 |
| Cherokee 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.8 | 13.6 | 15.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee.
| 2000143 29 Jun 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles originally retailed in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, the composite front disc brake rotors may fail due to corrosion. The cas… |
| 1997062 25 Mar 1997 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS210 - seat belt assembly anchorages. The web mounted rear seat inboard anchor may not achieve the … |
| 1996137 13 Sept 1996 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the fasteners which secure the alternator circuit fuse to the power distribution centre (PDC) may have an improper clamp load. Improper cl… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1994-1996 JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES IMPORTED FROM JANUARY 2007, THROUGH APRIL 2011 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT," FOR THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE REQUIRED THIRD BRAKE LAMP.
U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING 107 MY 1994-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE, 4-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, 'CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;' NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT;' NO. 111, 'REARVIEW MIRROR;' NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION;' NO. 115, 'VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER;' NO. 118, 'POWER WINDOW SYSTEM;' NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS;' NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION;' AND NO. 301, 'FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.'
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.
DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE FRAME, A FILLET WELD THAT JOINS THE INNER STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT TO THE FRAME RAIL, WAS OMITTED.
THE WEB MOUNTED REAR SEAT BELT INBOARD ANCHOR POSITIONS MAY NOT ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED LOAD OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
THE FASTENERS WHICH SECURE THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT FUSE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER CLAMP LOAD.
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 1996 Jeep Cherokee: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633948 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC |
| 633931 | SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR SAG/CREAKING SOUND. *SLC |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 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 |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089145 | CONDITIONS ON OBD II MISFIRE MONITOR. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088876 | INFORMATION ON FUEL PUMP DIAGNOSIS. *NLM |
| 6088834 | INFORMATION REGARDING NHTSA AUTHORIZED AIRBAG DEACTIVATION FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY. *NLM |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 607963 | INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 604975 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING BUZZ, WHINING, OR MOANING LIKE NOISE FROM COLD TRANSMISSION WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS SELECTED. *TT |
| 604705 | INFORMATION REGARDING POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (PDC) SERVICE. *TT |
| 603635 | SUBJECT ON FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *YC |
| 603108 | OUTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS MAY FATIGUE/BREAK. *AK |
| 602881 | SUBJECT REGARDING I/M ( INSPECTION MAINTENANCE ) TESTING - OBD II "CARB" READINESS MONITOR INFORMATION. *YC |
| 602337 | A THUMPING OR CREAKING NOISE MAY BE HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL AREA ON ACCELERATION OR WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. *YC |
| 602327 | THE OUTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation