JEEP CHEROKEE · model year

1988 JEEP CHEROKEE

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1988JEEPCHEROKEE carries 118 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, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 1988 CHEROKEE is vehicle speed control with 19 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (15) and fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (6). 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 1988 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.

118
Complaints
4
Crashes
7
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

118 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 CONTROL19
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY15
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
SEAT BELTS2
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM2

Recent Complaints

20100304CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LOOSE WIRE IN THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS ALSO REPAIRED TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 30,000

20060619SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT* THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEAT BELT STRAP DOES NOT LOCK UP. HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HAVE NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THEY SHOULD LOCK UP WHEN VEHICLE BREAKS BUT THEY DO NOT. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 189,000

20050222STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

UPON PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THE GEAR BOX DROPPED. THERE WAS ANOTHER FRAME WELDED TO THE ORIGINAL FRAME. FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

20031016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20031016VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20031016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20031016SEAT BELTS

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20031016EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20031016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO A HIGH HYDROCARBON OUTPUT/ PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS, BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, STARTER, AND SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB

20030512TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN LOUD NOISE HAD COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. (MODEL PEERLESS FORCE 4) *SCC

20030424SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

JEEP CHEROKEE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED... THE MECHANISM HAS COLLAPSED INSIDE THE BUCKLE.. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS PART OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE OLDER JEEP CHEROKEE SEAT BELT BUCKLES... THIS IS THE SECOND OLDER JEEP THAT WE HAVE OWNER THAT HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.. THE LAST TIME THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS TIME THEY WON'T AND SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO.. THIS BUCKLE SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE NO MATTER HOW OLD IT GETS UNLESS IT WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED WHICH IT HAS NOT BEEN... FEDERAL MANDATES ARE IN PLACE ON BUCKLES FOR FOREIGN CARS; WHY NOT DOMESTIC CARS TOO... *NLM

Mileage: 75,544

20020703ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY AFTER CLIMBING GRADES OR QUICK STOPS. *AK

20011011CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE. VEHICLE WENT BACKWARD AT HIGH SPEED, AND HIT PARKED VEHICLE. ACCIDENT REPORT STATED VEHICLE WENT 86 FEET, AND HIT PARKED VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. NO INJURIES. $ 2030 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AN IDLE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO CORRECT IT, THE IDLING PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV AT A HIGH RPM FOR A FEW MINUTES.*SLC

20010822STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010712POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO DRIFT BACKWARDS AFTER IT SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK *JB

20010712ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN I COME TO A STOP OR NEAR STOP, AND TURN EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AS I START ENTERING INTO THE INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS ONLY WHEN I HAVE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO START MY TURN. IT HAS ACTUALLY STALLED WHEN I'M NOSE OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL CATCH AGAIN IF I QUICKLY APPLY MORE GAS AND SLIGHTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. A COUPLE TIMES THE JEEP HAS STALLED AND THERE IS TRAFFIC COMING IN THE LANE THAT I'M STALLED IN.*AK

20010530VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE SPEED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED CONSUMER TRIED THE ON-OFF SWITCH OF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT, AND ALSO STEPPING ON THE BRAKED HAD NO EFFECT, VEHICLE HAD REACHED 75 MPH CONSUMER REALIZED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL SO HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES HE MANAGED TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND STOP IT IN NEUTRAL, CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT INSTANTLY WENT TO FULL THROTTLE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AGAIN AND HE BEGAN CHECKING THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL EVEN WTH THE ENGINE OFF WAS HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL TO ITS MAXIUM CONSUMER PULLED THE TWO VACUUM LINES OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTROLLER AND THIS THEN RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR TO

20010416VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE RPM'S GO UP TO 3000, AND WILL NOT GO DOWN. IF VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE AT THAT TIME, VEHICLE WILL TAKE OFF LIKE A ROCKET. CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART. SOMETIMES TWICE BEFORE RPM'S STAY DOWN. 1989 MODELS HAD RECALL ON HIGH ENGINE IDLE. *AK

20010413POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ONE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE SECOND IS FAILING IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALSO CAUSED ONE ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

20010410VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALWAYS WENT TO THE FLOOR, THROTTLE STAYED OPEN. COULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO MAKE THROTTLE CLOSE, BUTIT WILL ACTIVATE AGAIN.*AK

Compare 1988JEEPCHEROKEE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE have?
The 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE has 118 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE?
The most-complained component for the 1988 JEEP CHEROKEE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 19 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Is the 1988 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.