1989 Jeep CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
139,634 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 96 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 42.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 3 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 28; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 3; Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle): 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 86 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 | 35 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 35; 1996: 13; 2000: 17; 2001: 7; 2002: 7; 2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10011313 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING RECALL 96 V 260 000. ABS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023623 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO COMPRESSOR ON OPPOSITE SIDE HOSE LEAK CAUSING FIRE FROM BRAKE FLUID STREAM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027222 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038552 · 2003-09-09 (September 9, 2003)
WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051742 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)
CONSUMER HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. RECALL 96V26000 WAS ISSUED FOR FOR ABS FAILURE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071551 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
REQUEST A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL RECALL FOR 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE LAREDO. *PH *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071785 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. WHEN MAKING A TURN THE WHEELS MADE A NOISE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 30 MPH VEHICLE SHOOK. CONSUMER ALREADY PURCHASED 2 SETS OF BALL JOINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165000 · 2006-08-09 (August 9, 2006)
CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER(CMC) PRESSURE FAILED AT HOME; DISCOVERED CLUTCH PEDAL PIVOT BRACKET CRACKED AND BROKEN WHEN REPLACING CMC. DISCOVERED ONLY TOP HALF OF BRACKET WELDED TO PIVOT WHICH CAUSED STRESS IN THE LOWER HALF AT THE DIAMETER CROSS SECTION. FORTUNATELY, TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS NOT DRIVING AT TIME OF FAILURE. BROKEN PARTS REMOVED TO WELDING SHOP FOR CORRECT REPAIR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 139,267 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165000 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V177000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Reported: 1990-10-02 (October 2, 1990)
MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
Consequence: HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V003000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1991-10-02 (October 2, 1991)
THERE MAY BE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATION FROM CONDENSATION FORMATION THAT CAN PLUG THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FILTER; STRESS CORROSION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SNAP RING HAS BEEN TRACED TO CHLORINE LEAKING FROM THE LOW PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO BREAK; FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WHICH MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HOSE.
Consequence: CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERCYLINDER SNAP RING, RESULTING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE; FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKEHOSE DUE TO HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WILL CAUSE FAILURE OF ONE HALF OF THEBRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN EXPECTED.
Remedy: REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V260000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1996-12-27 (December 27, 1996)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION WOULD BE LOSE AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT AND THE BASE MANUAL BRAKES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗