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1981 Jeep Cherokee

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

1 reports
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Seats

WHEN INSTALLING THIS AFTERMARKET SEAT SLIDER, THE FIRST BOLT TIGHTENED TWISTED OFF SO EASILY IT COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF A GRADE#1 BOLT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION OR ROLLOVER., THE SEAT WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE SLIDER ALLOWING THE OCCUPANT TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ITEM WOULD FAIL I…

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WHEN INSTALLING THIS AFTERMARKET SEAT SLIDER, THE FIRST BOLT TIGHTENED TWISTED OFF SO EASILY IT COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF A GRADE#1 BOLT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION OR ROLLOVER., THE SEAT WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE SLIDER ALLOWING THE OCCUPANT TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ITEM WOULD FAIL IN A SIMPLE ROLLOVER FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT ITSELF IRREGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #761594

Official recalls

2

87V178000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

Nov 23, 1987

THE KEY OPERATED TAILGATE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IF THE SPRING LOADED KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO OFF POSITION WHEN RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WINDOW COULD CLOSE ON A CHILD OR OTHERS RESULTING INPERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE KEY IN TAILGATE OF UNATTENDED VEHICLE. REPAIR MECHANISM TO ASSURE PROPER KEY RETURN OPERATION.

81V015000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jan 4, 1981

THE TRANSMISSION THROTTLE CONTROL ROD SPRING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO CLOSE MORE SLOWLY THAN NORMAL. VEHICLES MAY RETURN TO IDLE SLOWLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: EACH END OF THE SPRING WILL BE INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, IF NECESSARY, TO ENSURE CORRECT POSITIONING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA88009 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Nov 16, 1987 · Closed Jan 9, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ANALYSIS:MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER OR THE\TV GASKETING MATERIAL LOSES ITS STRUCTURAL AND/OR SEALING INTEGRITY DUE TOTHE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMC 258 ENGINE.TESTINGPERFORMED BY A LOCAL FLEET CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVINGCONDITIONS, MOTOR OIL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE #3 OR #4 CYLINDERS (OVERTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAN RESULT IN A FIRE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DESTROY AVEHICLE.AMC HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS TSB'S REGARDING THE PROPER/IMPROPER METHOD OF SEAL-ING THE VALVE COVER-HEAD INTERFACE.1981-84 AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES AREEQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER WHICH HAS 5 GUIDE PINS AND 2 FASTENERS.THE COVER USED IN LATER MODELS WAS RE-DESIGNED TO HAVE 5 ATTACHING POINTS,AND THIS NEW VALVE COVER CAN BE USED ON OLDER ENGINES BY MEANS OF AMODIFICATION KIT.AS EXPECTED, COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1985 MODELSDROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, INDICATING THAT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW VALVE COVERMAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.STATUS: IR TO THE MANUFACTURER SENT 12/1/87.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===

EA88005 · Elec. Rear Window

Opened Oct 23, 1987 · Closed Mar 28, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINTS AND ODI EXAMINATION OF VEHICLES SUGGESTS THATIMPINGEMENT OF THE TAILGATE LOCK DUST COVER AGAINST THE KEY MAY EITHERINDUCE OR CONTINUE UNINTENDED UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE TAILGATE WINDOW.STATUS:CHRYSLER RECALLED BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 19, 1987.HOWEVER,WE BELIEVE THAT THE SELF EXAMINATION CALLED FOR IN THE RECALL NOTICE DOESNOT MEET WITH THE INTENT OF THE LAW.CHRYSLER HAS BEEN REQUESTED TOREEXAMINE THE RECALL BY LETTER DATED 11/20/87.