Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train280
- Service brakes, hydraulic105
- Fuel system, gasoline102
- Engine and engine cooling88
- Structure85
- Steering67
- Electrical system65
- Suspension50
- Vehicle speed control35
- Tires35
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 101 injuries and 6 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 34 1996 Grand Cherokee vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 21 people died inside them, and 17 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 Grand Cherokee failed the safety check 2.04% of the time — 39% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 174,659 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
59 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 58% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm36
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen21
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld19
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast13
- Band onvoldoende profiel12
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af11
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende10
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
25 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 278 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
23 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 4% 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 1 variant: combined 14.9 L/100 km (about 16 mpg US), CO₂ 343 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Cherokee · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 12.2 | 14.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
| 2013220 26 Jun 2013 | Structure Chrysler Canada has determined that an opportunity to incrementally improve performance in certain types of low-speed impacts may exist in certain vehicles. The… |
| 2002067 8 Apr 2002 | Other As a Customer Satisfaction Campaign DaimlerChrysler has initiated the following action: With certain Grand Cherokees, if a driver has not placed the shifter lev… |
| 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… |
| 1998014 27 Jan 1998 | Suspension NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH "QUADRA-TRAC" TRANSFER CASE AND A SPACE SAVER TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE. THE FRONT AXLE COULD OVERHEAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED USI… |
| 1997061 25 Mar 1997 | Electrical NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE MEMORY SEAT OPTION. THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE WIRING HARNESS MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT SPRING. IF THIS OCCURS, A LOW RES… |
| 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
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH "QUADRA-TRAC" TRANSFER CASE, TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE, AND ANY OF 225/70R16, 225/75R16 OR 245/70R15 ROAD TIRES. WHEN THE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE IS IN USE, THE FRONT AXLE CAN OVERHEAT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEAT OPTION. THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE WIRING HARNESS CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT SPRING, A LOW RESISTANCE SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP RESULTING IN LOCALIZED HEATING.
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 Grand Cherokee: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 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 |
| 613419 | INFORMATION REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR REFRIGERANT LEAKS IN THE A/C EVAPORATOR COIL ON SUBJECT VEHICLES. *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610005 | EXPERIENCING SPARK KNOCK AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089145 | CONDITIONS ON OBD II MISFIRE MONITOR. *NLM |
| 6089092 | CONCERNS WITH DOOR CHECK ROLLER REPAIR. *NLM |
| 6089091 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAI N OF DOOR TRIM PANEL VINYL OR PAINT PEELING. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6089000 | INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION COOLER REVERSE FLUSHING WITH COOLER BYPASS KIT INSTALLED. *NLM |
| 6088991 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES OVERDRIVE UNAVAILABLE IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES, BYPASS KIT INSTALLATION, INHIBITOR PROGRAMMING. *NLM |
| 6088979 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES TRANSFER CASE SHIFTER NOISE. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088876 | INFORMATION ON FUEL PUMP DIAGNOSIS. *NLM |
| 6088840 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMP. *NLM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
HOOD LATCH FAILURE
HOOD LATCH
ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED
INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE PARK
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation