Total Complaints
26 filings
JEEP CHEROKEE · model year
1986 JEEP CHEROKEE
26 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986JEEPCHEROKEE carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 CHEROKEE is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 8 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and structure:body:hatchback/liftgate (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1986 CHEROKEE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
26
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140508STEERING
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 HAS A POP-RIVETED FLOORBOARD IN AND IS VERY STRONG BUT THE BOTTOM HAS BEEN RUSTED THROUGH SHOWING THE BOTTOM OF IT,AND THE SIDES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHOLES. WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TO REPLACE THE RADIO,I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE CARPET TO INSTALL A NEW GROUND.PART OF THE FLOORBOARD FELL OUT CUTTING VERY DEEP INTO MY LEG.THE FLOORBOARDS WERE BEARING MY WEIGHT WITH NO ADDED FORCE WHATSOEVER. WHEN I REMOVED THE REST OF THE CARPET I WAS DISTRAUG
Mileage: 169,774
20140508VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 HAS A POP-RIVETED FLOORBOARD IN AND IS VERY STRONG BUT THE BOTTOM HAS BEEN RUSTED THROUGH SHOWING THE BOTTOM OF IT,AND THE SIDES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHOLES. WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TO REPLACE THE RADIO,I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE CARPET TO INSTALL A NEW GROUND.PART OF THE FLOORBOARD FELL OUT CUTTING VERY DEEP INTO MY LEG.THE FLOORBOARDS WERE BEARING MY WEIGHT WITH NO ADDED FORCE WHATSOEVER. WHEN I REMOVED THE REST OF THE CARPET I WAS DISTRAUG
Mileage: 169,774
20020509SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER BRAKES BOOSTER . HARD TO STOP VEHICLE.
20010703SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES PUT ON MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BACK BRAKES WERE DOWN TO RIVETS, AND WILL START TEARING INTO THE DRUMS. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS WHY VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID VERY BADLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010213SEAT BELTS:FRONT
IN COLD WEATHER FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FELL APART. DEALER HAS REPAIRED SEAT BELT TWICE, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK CONSUMER EXAMINED PIECES IN QUESTION AND FOUND THAT THEY CONTAINED PLASTIC PARTS AND IS QUESTIONING HOW PLASTIC COULD BE STRONG IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *SLC
20010201SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT COVER BROKE OFF WHILE IT WAS BEING USED. REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO LATCH IT. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED BUCKLE WAS REPAIRABLE. *AK
20001115STEERING:LINKAGES
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
20001115SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
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
20001115SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
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
20001115SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
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
20001027TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER HAS A 1986 JEEP COMANCHE WITH 19,000 ON REAR TIRES & 24,000 ON FRONT TIRES, CENTER OF THE TIRE WAS SEPARATING, FIRESTONE FR360 P215/75R15, FIRESTONE DEALER DIDN'T PRORATE TIRES BECAUSE OF WEAR.*AK *SLC
20000927SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BOTH MY RIGHT SEAT BELTS HAVE BROKE AND NO LONGER WORK. MY FRONT RIGHT BROKE WHILE I ,THE OWNER ,WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF AN ACCIDENT HAD OCCUR I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND WOULDN'T WANT HER BELT TO BREAK WHILE I AM DRIVING. I FEEL THE MANUFACTOR SHOULD REPLACE ALL MY SEAT BELTS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HAVE EVEN NOTICED MY DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCK COMING APART SLOWLY.T
20000130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FEMALE END OF SEAT BELT SYSTEM (LT&RT)DISINTIGRATED AND CAN'T BE FIXED. I AM AFRAID THAT IN AN EMERGENCY, THE MECHANISM WON'T BE ABLE TO BE RELEASED. DOES THE MANUFACTURER NEED TO REPLACE THESE SAFETY DEVICES??
20000103CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRYING TO PUT ON BRAKES VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. CONSUMER SAID CAR WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK
19981014SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT FASTENERS FAIL CONTINUALLY.
19980605SUSPENSION:REAR
DRIVER HEARD A POP AT 50 MPH, AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND SLIP TO A STOP. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE WHEEL AND AXLE HAD COME OFF THE VEHICLE AND COME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN ONE WEEK.
19971003SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
19970228CrashFatalSEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND AN OTHER VEHICLE HIT FIRST VEHICLE HEAD-ON, SEAT BELT SPLIT AT BOTTOM. FOUR PEOPLE WERE IN VEHICLE AND 3 WERE INJURED AND ONE WAS KILLED. TRYING TO FIND OUT THE DEFECT OF SEAT BELT THAT CAUSED IT TO SPLIT. *AK
19961231FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.
19961007VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.*AK
Compare 1986JEEPCHEROKEE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 JEEP CHEROKEE have?▼
The 1986 JEEP CHEROKEE has 26 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 JEEP CHEROKEE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 JEEP CHEROKEE is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE.
Is the 1986 JEEP CHEROKEE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.