Your vehicle report
1990 Jeep Cherokee
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 270
- Received Jan 1995 to Oct 2022
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up79 complaints · 29% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Front brake rotors warp and wear early16 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines15 complaints · 5.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #98V005000Vehicle 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.
- Recall #96V260000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 11 fires, 13 people injured, 5 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 1997 | 58 |
| 1998 | 28 |
| 1999 | 36 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 270 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 79 | 29% | – | NHTSA recall #96V260000 |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 16 | 5.9% | – | NHTSA recall #98V005000 |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 15 | 5.6% | – | NHTSA recall #91V003000, #91V063000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 13 | 4.8% | – | NHTSA recall #90V177000 |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 12 | 4.4% | – | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 12 | 4.4% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 10 | 3.7% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 10 | 3.7% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 9 | 3.3% | – | |
| Brake master cylinder leaks fluid and fails | 8 | 3.0% | – | |
| Jeep Cherokee stalls while driving | 7 | 2.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 2.2% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 6 | 2.2% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 5 | 1.8% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 5 | 1.8% | – | |
| Exhaust manifold cracks and leaks fumes | 5 | 1.8% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 5 | 1.8% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 4 | 1.5% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #98V005000January 12, 1998293,369 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
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.
The reduced strength Can allow the cast iron wear surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake effectiveness of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
NHTSA recall #96V260000December 27, 199652,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #91V003000October 2, 199133,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #91V063000April 15, 199117,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Improper insertion/crimping of the hose-to-end fittings of the high pressure hose on the anti-lock brake system Can cause detachment of the hose from the ABS system, and discharge of hydraulic fluid.
Detachment of the hose from the ABS system causes theloss of the ABS function and hydraulic brake assist, leaving only manual brakesand decreasing stopping ability, which could result in an accident. Discharge ofhydraulic fluid in the area of the hot exhaust system could result in an enginecompartment fire.
Remedy
Replace the ABS high pressure hose.
NHTSA recall #90V177000October 2, 1990165,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control: cruise control
Malfunction of fuel injection system throttle postition sensor could cause intermittent high engine idle speed immediately after starting engine.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1990 Jeep Cherokee.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN