1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and owners have filed 893 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
6 safety recalls for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Structure and tank assembly (fuel system)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler…
-
Floor shift (power train)
On certain sport utility vehicles, if a driver has not placed the shifter lever fully into the "park" position and leaves the vehicle running, the vehicle may unexpectedly move rearward after seeming to be stable.
Remedy: Dealers will install a secondary detent system to the floor shifter assembly. Daimlerchrysler sent interim notices to owners concerning this problem on march 22, 2002. Owner notification began september 23, 2002.…
-
Rotor (service brakes)
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.
-
Suspension: front
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles equipped with "quadra-trac" transfer case, temporary spare tire, and any of 225/70r16, 225/75r16 or 245/70r15 road tires. When the temporary spare tire is in use, the front axle can overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the temporary spare tire with a full sized tire and wheel.
-
Electrical system: wiring
Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with memory seat option. The memory seat module wiring harness can come in contact with the seat spring, a low resistance short circuit can develop resulting in localized heating.
Remedy: Dealers will relocate the memory seat control module and wiring harness and a protective shield will be installed on the seat frame.
-
Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)
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.
893 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee have filed 893 complaints with NHTSA; 135 describe a crash and 22 describe a fire. Reports cite 101 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 135,195 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 248 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The vehicle was able to restart immediately on some occasions and re”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 9, 2024 · Engine
“The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, he researched online and became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V00600”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 23, 2023 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Grand Cherokee 2WD, Grand Cherokee 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–14 / 17–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/5.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Jeep Grand Cherokee model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Jeep Grand Cherokee model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
How do I know if my 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Jeep dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V136000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Jeep models
- Wrangler15,984 complaints
- Cherokee14,838 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.