1996 Jeep Cherokee Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, and owners have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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6 safety recalls for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Brake lights (exterior lighting)

   NHTSA 11V279000 Reported May 6, 2011 1,126 vehicles potentially affected U.S. DRIVE RIGHT

   U.s. Drive right is recalling certain model year 1994-1996 jeep cherokee vehicles imported from january 2007, through april 2011 for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment," for the high mount brake lamp assembly. The vehicles are not equipped with the…

   Remedy: U.s. Drive right will notify owners and mail kits along with instructions to have the vehicle repaired by a qualified mechanic of their choice, free of charge. The safety recall began on september 12, 2011. Owners may…

2. Instrument cluster/panel (electrical system) and 5 other components

   NHTSA 08V056000 Reported February 6, 2008 107 vehicles potentially affected U.S. DRIVE RIGHT

   U.s. Drive right is recalling 107 my 1994-1998 right hand drive, 4-wheel drive jeep cherokee vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 101, 'controls and displays;' no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment;' no. 111, 'rearview mirror;' no. 114, 'theft protection;' no. 115, 'vehicle…

   Remedy: U.s. Drive right will make all the required modifications. A representative will travel to the customer's location and make the modifications on site. The recall will be performed on a regional basis beginning march…

3. Rotor (service brakes)

   NHTSA 00V136000 Reported May 10, 2000 589,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

   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…

   Remedy: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.

4. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

   NHTSA 97V069000 Reported April 28, 1997 2,500 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

   During assembly of the frame, a fillet weld that joins the inner steering gear attachment reinforcement to the frame rail, was omitted.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for cracks in the frame rail. Vehicles that show cracks will be equipped with reinforcement plates. Vehicles that are found to be free of cracks will have a slot cut in the cross…

5. Seat belts: rear/other

   NHTSA 97V040000 Reported March 17, 1997 77,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

   The web mounted rear seat belt inboard anchor positions may not achieve the required load of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."

   Remedy: Dealers will add a washer to each rear inboard seat belt anchor attachment.

6. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

   NHTSA 95V193000 Reported October 11, 1995 32,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

   The fasteners which secure the alternator circuit fuse to the power distribution center may have an improper clamp load.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the alternator fuse with a fuse link and any damage to the power distribution center will be repaired.

447 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA; 57 describe a crash and 27 describe a fire. Reports cite 27 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 138,975 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 89 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Service brakes, hydraulic: rotor62
• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip23
• Power train: automatic transmission22
• Engine and engine cooling: engine20
• Air bags: frontal19
• Electrical system16
• Structure: hinge and attachments16
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline15

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was running rough and then stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The cont”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 20, 2024 · Engine

“The jeep will start to shake whenever you hit a bump really bad shaking . Also whenever you come to a stop after driving 10 miles the most , the car will not turn on again for about 20 minutes. At som”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 11, 2020 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee (Cherokee 2WD, Cherokee 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Jeep Cherokee model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Jeep Cherokee model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1996 Jeep Cherokee

Other Jeep models

• Grand Cherokee29,093 complaints
• Wrangler15,984 complaints
• Liberty8,881 complaints
• Compass3,705 complaints
• Patriot2,790 complaints
• Commander2,752 complaints
• Renegade2,202 complaints
• Wrangler 4-DR 4X41,366 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.