SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
191Owner complaints

Model-year median: 113

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
198657
198797
1988191
1989270
1990233
1991113
1992
Compare all Cherokee years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
86Vehicle Speed Control
45Fuel System, Gasoline
15Electrical System
13Engine And Engine Cooling
13
All reported categories
Power Train
9Seat Belts
7Structure
7Suspension
6Unknown Or Other
6Exterior Lighting
5Tires
5Visibility
5Service Brakes
4Service Brakes, Air
3Steering
3Interior Lighting
2Parking Brake
2Seats
2Wheels
2Equipment
1

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

86 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CAR FAILS TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS DUE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS ON WET DAYS (I LIVE IN SEATTLE), THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING, CAUSING A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION! VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS IF FRONT WHEEL…

Read full complaint

CAR FAILS TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS DUE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS ON WET DAYS (I LIVE IN SEATTLE), THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING, CAUSING A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION! VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS IF FRONT WHEELS GET ON GRAVEL (PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT FOR EXAMPLE). VEHICLE ALSO FAILS TO SLOW WHEN TAKING CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS ON WET PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #700756

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS LIGHT COMES ON EVERYTIME VEHICLE EXCEEDS 60 MPH. DRIVER HAS TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO DISAPPEAR. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON HIS ABS SYSTEM, AND DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. YET THE PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH DESCRIPTI…

Read full complaint

ABS LIGHT COMES ON EVERYTIME VEHICLE EXCEEDS 60 MPH. DRIVER HAS TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO DISAPPEAR. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON HIS ABS SYSTEM, AND DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. YET THE PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH DESCRIPTION IN RECALL 96V260000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829535

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS PUMP COMPRESSOR IS VERY LOUD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI #538741

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS HAS AN INTERMITTENT PUMP FAILURE WHERE THE BOOST PRESSURE DROPS TO NOTHING AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VERY HAND AND LONG BRAKING SITUATIONS. NO APPARENT LEAKS AND THE RESEVOIR IS FULL.

NHTSA ODI #537074

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION, RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA ODI #535152

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING THE TRUCK IN CRUISE CONTROL THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER. THE PEDAL WAS HARD. HAS HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821730

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V260000). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS ON THE ORDERS OF MANUFACTURER. OWNER ALSO INFORMED THAT GAS WAS CONTAMINATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822185

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire

VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID LEAKING DOWN AND BURNING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533282

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1998
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533159

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #604420

Official recalls

3

96V260000 · 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

3

PE93057 · 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