1987 Jeep CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 37 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 18.9% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 2 |
| Steering:Column | 2 |
| Steering:Linkages | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 2; Steering:Column: 2; Steering:Linkages: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 30 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 6; 2000: 6; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001699 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. AND ROLL THREE OR MORE TIMES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 280,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014853 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE IDLING IN FRONT OF A HOSPITAL ENTRANCE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. SIX PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014853 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 10041963 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
WHEN BRAKING AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. RECALL 87V03500 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE WOULD RACE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND WOULD OVERCOME THE USAGE OF FULL BRAKING. THE ENGINE RACING HAD OCCURRED DURING THE START OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WOULD BE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN, THEN WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067370 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
STEERING COLUMN SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070419 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THIS JEEP IS UNPREDICTABLE BECAUSE IT ACCELERATES FOR NO EXPECTED REASON IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK ON A HIGH THROTTLE IDLE SPEED WHEN I FIRST TURN IT ON. I WOULD TURN IT ON AND IT WILL ACCELERATE AT VERY HIGH REVOLUTIONS , IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO EXPLODE, SO I TURN IT OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND IT WILL DO THE SAME THING, I WILL TURN IT OFF AND ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND MAYBE IT WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED, ALL THIS WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK. AND SOMETIMES I WILL TURN IT ON AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON LIKE NORMAL LIKE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. …
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070419 at NHTSA ↗
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 10142616 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS; 97I002000 CONCERNING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , RECALL 88V106000 CONCERNING THE POWER ASSIST HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES/RECALL 87V035000 CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES/ 86V159000 CONCERNING THE STEERING LINKAGES, AND 86V160000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVER: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. SHE CONTACTED DAIMLER/CHRYLSER, AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142616 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V159000 · Steering:Linkages
Reported: 1986-12-09 (December 9, 1986)
STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS REMAINED IN ACID ETCHING BATH TOO LONG. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COUPLERS COULD BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL MISALIGNMENT WITH EVENTUAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE OUT OF TOLERANCE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V160000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1986-12-11 (December 11, 1986)
A STUD MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE THAT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CHAFING OF THE FUEL HOSE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Remedy: REMOVE STUD AND REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE AND LINE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V022000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1987-02-25 (February 25, 1987)
CRUISE CONTROL MODULE COULD HAVE INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION.
Consequence: INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION COULD RESULT INLOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE MODULE, AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Reported: 1987-03-18 (March 18, 1987)
VEHICLE MAY CONTAIN AN OUT OF TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THE ACCELERATOR FROM RETURNING TOIDLE WHEN RELEASED.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT THROTTLE BODIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V106000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic
Reported: 1988-07-01 (July 1, 1988)
BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR CANISTERS MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT.
Consequence: THIS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND ANINCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CANNISTERS WITH NEW TYPE CANNISTERS; ALSO, INSTALL A RESTRICTION ORIFICE TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT VACUUM IN EVENT CANNISTER LEAKAGE OCCURS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗