U.S. public vehicle records

Jeep CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13,275 owner complaints analyzed

93 distinct recall campaigns

39,888 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1973 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 6,751 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5,076 of 13,275 complaints (38.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	2,985	22.5%
Braking behavior	2,240	16.9%
Engine operation	1,324	10.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1,186	8.9%
Steering behavior	762	5.7%
Fuel system concerns	239	1.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train

5,076

Engine

2,170

Electrical System

2,063

Unknown Or Other

1,744

Vehicle Speed Control

725

Service Brakes

669

Steering

509

Fuel/Propulsion System

393

Power Train: 5,076; Engine: 2,170; Electrical System: 2,063; Unknown Or Other: 1,744; Vehicle Speed Control: 725; Service Brakes: 669; Steering: 509; Fuel/Propulsion System: 393

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

2,395

25,000 to 49,999

1,631

50,000 to 74,999

1,180

75,000 to 99,999

685

100,000 to 149,999

589

150,000 and above

271

Under 25,000: 2,395; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,631; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,180; 75,000 to 99,999: 685; 100,000 to 149,999: 589; 150,000 and above: 271

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2,395). 6,524 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

376

1996

244

2000

623

2001

582

2002

409

2003

278

2004

167

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

285

2015

755

2016

734

2017

510

2018

755

2019

1,452

2020

1,252

2021

708

2022

559

2023

780

2024

637

2025

1,122

2026

621

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	376
1996	244
2000	623
2001	582
2002	409
2003	278
2004	167
2005	86
2006	37
2007	45
2008	77
2009	37
2010	38
2011	34
2012	25
2013	47
2014	285
2015	755
2016	734
2017	510
2018	755
2019	1452
2020	1252
2021	708
2022	559
2023	780
2024	637
2025	1122
2026	621

1995: 376; 1996: 244; 2000: 623; 2001: 582; 2002: 409; 2003: 278; 2004: 167; 2005: 86; 2006: 37; 2007: 45; 2008: 77; 2009: 37; 2010: 38; 2011: 34; 2012: 25; 2013: 47; 2014: 285; 2015: 755; 2016: 734; 2017: 510; 2018: 755; 2019: 1,452; 2020: 1,252; 2021: 708; 2022: 559; 2023: 780; 2024: 637; 2025: 1,122; 2026: 621

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2,985 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2,240 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1,324 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10091719 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)

THE CONSUMER NOTICED PINK FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THE GASKET AND SEALS WERE REPLACED ON THE TRANSFER CASE. HOWEVER THE LEAK CONTINUED. AFTER PARTS WERE REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION WAS PUT ON DEALERSHIP FOUND A POROUS LEAK IN WHICH A SMALL PIN HOLE WAS IN THE SIDE TOP OF TRANSFER CASE NEAR AIR VENT. THE TRANSFER CASE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091719 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 735666 · 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)

WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN, AND AM STOPPED,AND I HAVE TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SLIGHTLY TURNED AND I RELEASE THE FOOT BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETLEY STALL, UNLESS I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN IT MAY CATCH AND START RUNNING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION I ATTEMPT TO TURN AND THE STALLING MAY PUT ME A FEW FEET OUT INTO THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE SHIFT GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WILL EIMMEDIATELY START. THIS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735666 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8021027 · 2002-10-17 (October 17, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE WILL PULSATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. DEALER ALREADY REPAIR VEHICLE TWICE. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021027 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 884398 · 2001-03-27 (March 27, 2001)

WOULD BE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN WHEEL. BRAKES WERE SPARKING WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP , AND MECHANIC FOUND THAT BRAKE PIN BROKE LOOSE AND GOT CAUGHT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884398 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 506778 · 1996-08-16 (August 16, 1996)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STARTING PROBLEMS/STALLING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506778 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480295 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)

LUG ON WIRE AT FUEL PUMP END WAS IMPROPERLY CRIMPED WHEN ASSEMBLED, CAUSING LUG TO OVERHEAT/INSULATION ON WIRING TO BURN OFF. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 729145 · 2000-08-26 (August 26, 2000)

ENGINE IDLES DANGEROUSLY HIGH AT TIMES. WILL GO TO 3000RPM AND STAY THERE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT MAKING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE/UNRELIABLE/USELESS. DEALER REFUSED TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DUE TO WIRING HARNESS BEING TAMPERED WITH BUT THE DEALER DID THIS ON PREVIOUS REPAIRS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729145 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 735894 · 2000-11-07 (November 7, 2000)

ONGOING STEERING PROBLEM REPORTED BY PREVIOUS OWNER & EXPERIENCED BY PRESENT OWNER; STEERING WANDER, ESP. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, ALL PARTS UNDAMAGED OR REPLACED INC. TIE RODS, STRUTS, SHOCKS, BUSHINGS, ETC...; ALIGNMENT TO SPECS WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735894 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016576 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)

STEERING COLUMN WOBBLES AT TILT JOINT . ON LEFT TURNS, STEERING COLUMN LOCKS IN POSITION MAKING CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016576 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587229 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 WITH THE INTENTIONS OF MAKING A VEHICLE TO USE IN THE WINTER FOR BAD WEATHER OR VERY BAD SNOW. HERE ARE ISSUES I FACE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY ONCE I REACH SPEEDS OVER 35MPH. IT GOES WELL PASS THE 85MPH MARK AND BACK DOWN TO 15MPH AND BOUNCE ALL BETWEEN. THE VEHICLE IS SO OUT OF ALIGNMENT ITS DANGEROUS. ALL THE FLOOR BOARDS HAVE BEEN RUSTED THROUGH ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SEATS. THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS 1/2 MISSING, AND ALL FLOOR BOARDS ARE EXTREMELY WEEK.THE DRIVER SIDE HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 169,774 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587229 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.