1996 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cherokee years
- About as many complaints as other years 8th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee. That ranks 8th out of 19 Cherokee model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (86 complaints, 19%), typically at around 66,000 miles. Complaints mention 57 crashes, 27 fires, 27 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 447owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 57complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Jeep Cherokee problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 86 | 19% | 66,000 | “brake rotors” (24%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 60 | 13% | 112,673 | “transfer case” (18%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 54 | 12% | 150,000 | “engine mount” (13%) | — |
| Structure | 47 | 11% | 133,100 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 43 | 10% | 134,256 | — | — |
| Steering | 37 | 8% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 31 | 7% | 134,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 26 | 6% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 5% | 181,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 4% | 175,138 | — | — |
| Seats | 15 | 3% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 14 | 3% | 130,649 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 3% | 113,618 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 2% | 171,931 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 2% | 206,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 1% | 223,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 1% | 120,333 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 125,005 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Jeep Cherokee recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: 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 required third brake lamp.
Risk: Inadequate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 contact u.s. Drive right at 1-888-632-5936.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; equipment:other:labels; visibility:rearview mirrors/devices; visibility:power window devices and controls; exterior lighting; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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 identification number;' no. 118, 'power window system;' no. 120, 'tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars;' no. 208, 'occupant crash protection;' and no. 301, 'fuel system integrity.'
Risk: These vehicles do not meet the required standards.
Fix: 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 2008. Owners may contact u.s. Drive right at 1-888-632-5936.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor
Problem: 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.
Risk: The reduced strength can allow the cast iron wear surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake effectiveness of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Problem: During assembly of the frame, a fillet weld that joins the inner steering gear attachment reinforcement to the frame rail, was omitted.
Risk: Due to high steering load events, vehicles can exhibit broken steering gear attaching bolts or frame rail cracking at the steering gear attaching point increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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 member and the fillet weld will be added.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: The web mounted rear seat belt inboard anchor positions may not achieve the required load of fmvss no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Risk: In the event of a crash, the vehicle occupant would not be properly secured.
Fix: Dealers will add a washer to each rear inboard seat belt anchor attachment.
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Problem: The fasteners which secure the alternator circuit fuse to the power distribution center may have an improper clamp load.
Risk: Improper clamping can result in arcing at the connection potentially causing a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will replace the alternator fuse with a fuse link and any damage to the power distribution center will be repaired.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires (EA12005) — opened Jun 12, 2012, closed Nov 14, 2014, led to recall 13V252000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence…
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 some point i rocked the car from side to side and after that it will start. Also too the steering…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 jeep cherokee. While driving 65 mph over a bump in the road, the steering wheel and vehicle jerked. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the "death wobble". There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 jeep cherokee. While driving 70 mph over uneven pavement, the vehicle started to vibrate uncontrollably. The vibration stopped when decelerating to low speeds. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The…
While driving on the interstate highway at about 65 to 75 mph vehicle began to shake in the front end so severely we had to slow completely down and pull to the side of the road and to a stop completely. The jeep is not safe to drive and i have read of other incidents that they have named it the…
Other Jeep Cherokee years
← 1995 Cherokee · 1997 Cherokee →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cherokee | 8 | 4 |
| 2023 Cherokee | 3 | 1 |
| 2022 Cherokee | 51 | 3 |
| 2021 Cherokee | 173 | 4 |
| 2020 Cherokee | 324 | 3 |
| 2019 Cherokee | 1,661 | 11 |
| 2018 Cherokee | 687 | 7 |
| 2017 Cherokee | 1,336 | 6 |
| 2016 Cherokee | 1,409 | 9 |
| 2015 Cherokee | 1,789 | 11 |
| 2014 Cherokee | 2,650 | 13 |
| 2006 Cherokee | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 Cherokee | 229 | 2 |
| 2000 Cherokee | 369 | 1 |
| 1999 Cherokee | 366 | 2 |
| 1998 Cherokee | 399 | 5 |
| 1997 Cherokee | 390 | 4 |
| 1996 | 447 | 6 |
| 1995 Cherokee | 608 | 6 |
See all Jeep Cherokee problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 86 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Jeep Cherokee a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cherokee model years, the 1996 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.