JEEP LAREDO · model year

1996 JEEP LAREDO

71 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996JEEPLAREDO carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 9 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 1996 LAREDO is structure:body:door with 7 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch (7) and power train:automatic transmission (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 29 investigation files overlapping the 1996 LAREDO, and 3 remain open. 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.

71
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
SUSPENSION2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2

Recent Complaints

20140731CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP LAREDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL BEFORE ROLLING OVER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE BOX AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20140417ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I JUST BROUGHT THIS TRUCK A FEW MOTHS BACK AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. IT'S QUITE FREQUENT NOW. I'VE BEEN ON HERE TO LOOK FOR ANY RECALLS BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY FOR THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR LOOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT'S DANGEROUS. JEEP PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN HONEST MECHANIC AND HE DOESN'T CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT BUT CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE. *TT

20140417UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I JUST BROUGHT THIS TRUCK A FEW MOTHS BACK AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. IT'S QUITE FREQUENT NOW. I'VE BEEN ON HERE TO LOOK FOR ANY RECALLS BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY FOR THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR LOOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT'S DANGEROUS. JEEP PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN HONEST MECHANIC AND HE DOESN'T CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT BUT CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE. *TT

20130823ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE (1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE) OFTEN STALLS IN TRAFFIC. IT FAILS AT ANY SPEED, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR IN MOTION. IT SOMETIMES TAKES 15+ MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. IT HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR EVEN IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DIAGNOSES OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY PHANTOM PROBLEMS REPAIRED WITH NEW PARTS INSTALLED, THE LATEST BY THE DEALER IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA WHO JUST REPLACED THE CONNECTORS ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, NOW THEY WANT ME TO POUR ANOTHER $500+ DOLLAR INTO REPAIRING THE VEHICLE SIGHTING THE PCM AS THE ??PROBLEM??. MY CURRENT BILL IS NOW AT $1,200; ADD THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND NOW THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REALIZING THEY ARE ONLY THE DEALER I CONTACTED THE JEEP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1 877 426 5337 AND WAS BLOWN OFF BY THE JEEP SPECIALIST [XXX] (HE HAD BEEN TRAINED TO BE APOLOGETIC THOUGH)

Mileage: 165,000

20121204ENGINE

ENGINE STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WILL BE OPERATING FINE, ENGINE TOTALLY CUTS OUT. NO POWER WHATSOEVER. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS HAS BEEN A FAIRLY REGULAR PROBLEM ON JEEPS OF THIS ERA (1996 - HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS OF SOME OTHER YEARS). THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, DEALERSHIPS DENY RESPONSIBILITY. CODE HAS INDICATED BAD COIL - HAVE REPLACED COIL, SAME PROBLEM. ANECDOTAL REPORTS THAT PCM BOARD APPEARS TO BE SHORTING OR OTHERWISE AFFECTED BY TOO LONG SCREWS, SUGGESTION TO REPLACE WITH SHORTER SCREWS OR PLACE WASHERS TO PREVENT POTENTIAL CONTACT TO BOARD. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF TIME FOR MANY, MYSELF INCLUDED, THEN PROBLEM RECURS. OTHERS SUGGEST THIS IS INDICATION THAT CIRCUIT BOARD IS CRACKED, THUS SCREW CONTACT RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT DISCONNECT AND FAILURE. VERY MUCH WHAT HAPPENS. STALLS, THEN MAY START AND RUN FINE FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN WILL STALL AGAIN. NO WARNING -CAN BE GOING FREEWAY SPEED AND IT WILL SUDDENLY STALL, THUS LOSS OF POWER

Mileage: 196,000

20100327SEATS

1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE COMPLETELY...TO THE POINT IT CANNOT ME MOVED FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. SO IT STRAINS ANY DRIVER'S BACK IF DRIVING LONGER THAN 5-10 MINUTES. ONE HAS TO LITERALLY HOLD AND PUCH THEMSELVES UP TO SIT UPRIGHT AND DRIVE. NEED RECALL, PLEASE.

Mileage: 210,501

20071203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER E22 ON OCTOBER 30, 2007. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AFTER OBSERVING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INCORRECT PART WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND POSITIONED IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPOSITION THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO AVOID MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WIRES NEAR THE OXYGEN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO MOVE IT AND CHOSE TO LOWER IT BY A 1/2 INCH. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT THE TEMPERATURE FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN REACH TO 600 DEGREES. THE CONTACTS RECEIPT HAS THE CORRECT PART NUMBER, 5083054AD; HOWEVER, THAT PART NUMBER DOESN'T MATCH THE ONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE PART # ON HIS VEHICLE PER SPECIFICATIONS ON HIS VEHICLE IS #9. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,235 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 12/13/07 *KB UPDATED 12/13/07 *TR

Mileage: 150,235

20061220ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 96 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT BEGAN TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE JEEP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OFF AND ON FOR THESE 6 WEEKS SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, I HAVE SPENT APPROX. $600 TRYING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM CHRYSLER FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SO I TOOK JEEP TO LOCAL DEALER TO GET REPAIR DONE AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE "95 % SURE" THAT THE CONVERTER IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY JEEP CUTTING OFF. NOW THE COMPLAINT, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX MY JEEP. DEALER TELLS ME HE CAN ONLY ORDER ONE PART A WEEK AND HE'S NOT SURE THAT ONE IS GOING TO COME IN. DEALER TELLS ME TO CALL CHRYSLER. WHEN I CALL CHRYSLER THEY TELL ME TO CALL OTHER LOCAL DEALERS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A PART, WELL WHAT DO YOU THINK THEIR ANSWER IS? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ONE. MY JEEP IS NOT DRIVABLE AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. LUCKILY, SO FAR, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS. TWO CLOSE CALLS, ONE NEARLY A HEA

20050921CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT STATES ON 9-13-05 STARTED THE CAR WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND WHEN SHE REACHED OVER TO PULL THE CAR INTO DRIVE THE CAR REVVED/SURGED AND TOOK OFF. THE JEEP WRAPPED AROUND A TREE AND TOTALED THE JEEP. SHE REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THIS. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS KIND. SHE JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT SIX MONTHS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING. SHE HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT PLANED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE IS A 1996 GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO.*AK

Mileage: 115,000

20050217STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

COLOR FADE ON FRONT BUMPER FASCIA. *JB

20040729CrashSUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE VEHICLE HIT A FENCE.THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THERE WERE SHAKES THAT HAD GONE AWAY. THE CONSUMER SLOWED THE VEHICLE WHEN SEEING BUMPS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE AGAIN ON THE BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE CONSUMER HEARD A POP. THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A FENCE. *SC *JB

Mileage: 142,000

20040729CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE VEHICLE HIT A FENCE.THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THERE WERE SHAKES THAT HAD GONE AWAY. THE CONSUMER SLOWED THE VEHICLE WHEN SEEING BUMPS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE AGAIN ON THE BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE CONSUMER HEARD A POP. THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A FENCE. *SC *JB

Mileage: 142,000

20040416SEAT BELTS

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. *AK NONE OF THE SEAT BELTS LOCK. *SC *JB

20030812ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A GAS SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENT AREA DUE TO A CRACK INSIDE OF THE MANIFOLD. *AK

20030717SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO. REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD. SUDDEN STOP OR GO AROUND CORNER OR A PERSON SITTING IN THE BELT NEXT TO THE CHILD SEAT BUMPS THE BELT AND IT WILL UNSNAP.I CAN PULL ON THE BELT TRYING TO SECURE THE CHILD SEAT THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE HELD IN PLACE AND IT WILL ALSO COME OUT.*AK

20030627EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS DESCRIBED IN A TSB. IT CAUSED CONDENSATION, CORROSION AND RUST. WHILE DRIVING THE SLUSHING OF THE WATER FLOWING FROM SIDE TO SIDE UNDER DASH CAN BE HEARD. THE UNIT FAILED TO HEAT OR COOL THE VEHICLE. *NLM

20030512POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

THE VEHICLE HAD 4 TRANSMISSION INSTALLED, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR END. *JB

20030509SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UNSTABLE AND ROCKED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE BOLT WAS MISSING. *JB

20030326FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP FAILURE, NOW HAVING 4TH FUEL PUMP PUT ON IN 17 MONTH PERIOD. *JB

Mileage: 96,613

20020715POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, SEALS ARE LEAKING AND THERE A DELAY IN STOPPING. CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

Compare 1996JEEPLAREDO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 JEEP LAREDO have?
The 1996 JEEP LAREDO has 71 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 JEEP LAREDO?
The most-complained component for the 1996 JEEP LAREDO is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1996 JEEP LAREDO 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.