JEEP CHEROKEE · model year

1987 JEEP CHEROKEE

72 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1987JEEPCHEROKEE carries 72 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 7 fires, 8 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 1987 CHEROKEE is vehicle speed control with 12 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine (5). 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 1987 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.

72
Complaints
4
Crashes
7
Fires
8
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

72 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
TIRES2
STEERING:COLUMN2
STEERING:LINKAGES2

Recent Complaints

20060208STEERING:LINKAGES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME FOR DIAGNOSTICS TEST. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 86V159000 REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 11,000

20051114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

20051114SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC

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

20051114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

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

20051114STEERING:LINKAGES

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

20051114FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

20040909POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

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

Mileage: 67,000

20040422EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

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. IF I TURN IT ON AND ITS ACCELERATED AND I TAKE FOR A RIDE IT FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO TAKE OFF ON ME AND WHEN I STEP ON THE CLUTCH IT MAKES A HISSING NOISE. THIS PROBLEM SUCKS BEACUSE WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE MACHANICS NOTHING SHOWS UP AS A PROBLEM ...BECAUSE IT IS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN ITS GOING TO DO IT. SO I LOOK LIKE THE FOOL TRYING TO SHOW THE MECHANIC WHAT IT MAY DO.

Mileage: 72,000

20040419STEERING:COLUMN

STEERING COLUMN SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED. *AK

Mileage: 131,000

20030930VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

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

Mileage: 200,000

20030427STEERING:COLUMN

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

Mileage: 90,000

20030401CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20021230VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 280,000

20020627FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE SEEPING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

20020603VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON ON FULL THROTTLE CANNOT STOP VEHICLE IF PUT IT IN GEAR. CONTACTED MECHANIC. THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM.*AK

20020517FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK

20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED, THE IDLER PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND ALMOST HIT THE CONSUMERS HEAD, IT BOUNCED OFF THE CONSUMERS GARAGE WALL AND IMPACTED THE GARAGE CONCRETE FLOOR, THE BEARINGS WITHIN THE IDLER PULLEY FAILED, CAUSING THE PULLEY BOLT THREADS TO BACK OUT OF THE HOUSING. *YD

20011227ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED, THE IDLER PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND ALMOST HIT THE CONSUMERS HEAD, IT BOUNCED OFF THE CONSUMERS GARAGE WALL AND IMPACTED THE GARAGE CONCRETE FLOOR, THE BEARINGS WITHIN THE IDLER PULLEY FAILED, CAUSING THE PULLEY BOLT THREADS TO BACK OUT OF THE HOUSING. *YD

20010828ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE BEARINGS WITHIN THE IDLER PULLEY (NUMBER 53002905) FAILED CAUSING THE PULLEY BOLT THREADS TO BACK OUT OF THE HOUSING, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WITH THE HOOD UP SLIGHTLY ABOVE ENGINE IDLE SPEED WHEN IDLER PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND BECAME AIRBORN. NLM

20010508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE ACCESSORIES WIRE [BROWN IN COLOR] OVERHEATS AND MELTS CAUSING THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ALMOST CATCH ON FIRE. THAT ONE WIRE ON 1987 AND EARLY MODELS HAPPENS ALOT. I RESEARCHED A NUMBER OF JEEPS IN SALVAGE YARDS LOCALLY. JEEP MUST HAVE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT LATER MODELS HAVE AN EXTRA RED WIRE ON THAT SOCKET TO TAKE UP SOME OF LOAD ON THAT WIRE. I HAVE'NT FINISHED MY RESEARCH YET TO FIND WHAT YEAR THEY ADDED THE EXTRA WIRE. *AK

Compare 1987JEEPCHEROKEE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 JEEP CHEROKEE have?
The 1987 JEEP CHEROKEE has 72 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 JEEP CHEROKEE?
The most-complained component for the 1987 JEEP CHEROKEE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1987 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.