IllustrationWHILE FRONT END FELL OFF VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING.CONTACTED DEALER. COOLING RESERVIOR CRACKED.DEALER SAID THIS WAS A COMMON,EVEN WITH NEWER MODELS. *AK
1989 Jeep Cherokee
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 113.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cherokee years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 10 of 191 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
13 reportsCONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND GAUGE LIGHTS TO FAIL, ALSO THE DRIVERS POWER WINDOW WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE. NLM
2 COMMENTS: 1.WHEN JEEP FIRST STARTED ABS IS ENGAGED FOR 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION THEN DISENGAGES 2. AFTER NORMAL WARM-UP (ESPECIALLY ON WARM DAYS), THE BRAKE MOTOR PUMP FAILS TO PUMP, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, AND BRAKE PRESSURE IS LOST. SINCE THE VECHILE IS OVER 100K IS THIS COVERED UNDER PREVIOUS RECALLS?*AK
RECALL WORK DENIED FOR ABS (#702) DUE TO ADDITIONAL WORK NECESSARY (ABS WHEEL SENSORS) PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIR. MJS
ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL FAILED. NLM
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED.
ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THIS IS A RECALL ITEM AND OWNER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES ON BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIR.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, LEAKING CARBON MONIXIDE INTO VEHICLE.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED BEFORE RECALL REPAIR.
Official recalls
396V260000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Dec 27, 1996
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION WOULD BE LOSE AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT AND THE BASE MANUAL BRAKES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
91V003000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 2, 1991
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERCYLINDER SNAP RING, RESULTING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE; FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKEHOSE DUE TO HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WILL CAUSE FAILURE OF ONE HALF OF THEBRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN EXPECTED.
Remedy: REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
90V177000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
Oct 2, 1990
MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
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
3PE93057 · Driveshaft/univ.joint Fail
Opened Jun 14, 1993 · Closed Oct 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA90024 · Failed Antilock Brakes
Opened Apr 26, 1990 · Closed Jan 14, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE90033 · Failed Antilock Brakes
Opened Jan 16, 1990 · Closed Apr 26, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available