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1991 Jeep Cherokee

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cherokee years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Jeep Cherokee are substantially higher than the model-year median of 113.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 233 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 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. 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.

13 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

12 reports
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176,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE POWER ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THAT THE ACCTUATOR AND RS SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE POWER ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THAT THE ACCTUATOR AND RS SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. UPDATED 8/29/14*CN UPDATED 09/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10610661

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE INVOLVED IN SEVERAL RECALLS. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR IN APRIL. SPEED SENSOR AND RING TONE WHEEL FAILED, RELEASING BRAKES WHEN PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGAN TO MOVE ON ITS OWN EVEN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8015237

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SURGE, ENGINE REVVS. CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE, THEN RESTART. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8009921

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER, CALIPER, PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549649

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY NO PERSON OR CAR WAS IN THE WAY. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATION STOPPED. SCARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708200

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1998
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #529433

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN REVERSE ACCELERATION IN REVERSE GEAR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #527089

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. WHEN THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A CHILD, AND TO AVOID HITTING THE CHILD VEHICLE RAN INTO A BASEBALL FIELD AND THEN FLAP IN THE AIR. VEHICLE IS UNDER A NON-SAFETY RECALL 97I- 002 000.

NHTSA ODI #813620

Mileage unknown · May 9, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TYRING TO PARK VEHICLE IT WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, IMPACT 12: 00 POSITION, RPMS, UNKNOWN, VEHICLE WENT INSIDE OF THE BUILDING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812149

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED THREE TIMES BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A WEATHER SEAL. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ODI #962370

Official recalls

5

98V005000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Jan 12, 1998

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

91V063000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 15, 1991

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

90V206000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 18, 1990

SUSPENSION JOUNCE BUMPER COULD CONTACT LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE TUBE WHEN SUSPENSION IS AT FULL JOUNCE (BOUNCE).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONTACT AT FULL JOUNCE MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE TUBE TOCOLLAPSE AND RESTRICT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKEWHICH AFFECTS THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: REPLACE LEFT REAR BRAKE TUBE WITH TUBE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH BUMPER.

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

6

DP02005 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Apr 25, 2002 · Closed Sep 10, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

EA97001 · Brake Disc/hub Separation

Opened Jan 13, 1997 · Closed Jan 9, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE CAUSED SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE DISC FROM ITS HUB, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE.

PE96053 · Brake Disc/hub Separation

Opened Sep 5, 1996 · Closed Jan 13, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

consumer complaints indicate that corrosion of hte brake rotors have caused separation of the brake disc from its hub, resulting in brake failure.

DP95007 · Vehicle Sudden Acceleration

Opened Nov 17, 1995 · Closed Dec 5, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE95049 · Rear Axle Shaft Separation

Opened Aug 17, 1995 · Closed Jan 26, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE MODE AND THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY POSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE SEPARATIONS.THE REAR AXLE SHAFT AND HOUSING DESIGN IS TYPICAL OF THOSE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE IS CARRIED ON THE AXLE HOUSING.THE LEFT AND RIGHT AXLE SHAFTS, SUPPORTED BY ROLLER BEARINGS, ARE SITUATED INSIDE THE AXLE HOUSING.THE INBOARD SPLINED END OF THE AXLE SHAFT RECEIVES POWER TRANSMITTED FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, PROVIDING TORQUE TO THE REAR WHEELS.THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THAT THE AXLE SHAFT FAILS, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF A WHEEL AND AXLE HUB ASSEMBLY OR THE ENTIRE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT FAILURE.AS IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER, THE SUBJECT REAR AXLES ARE DANA 35C AND 35CM MODELS, WHICH HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SINCE THE 1990 MODEL YEAR.A SAFETY DEFECT TREND WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT AXLE SHAFTS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.SEE HARD COPY RESUME FOR FULL TEXT OF SUMMARY.

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