19 of the 118 complaints about the 1988 Jeep Cherokee are about the electrical system — 16% of everything reported for this model year.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL 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
NHTSA complaint #10042795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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.
NHTSA complaint #747950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED JEEP AND WIRING CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO REASON THERE WERE NO INDICTIONS OF A SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #742353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN, AND AM STOPPED,AND I HAVE TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SLIGHTLY TURNED AND I RELEASE THE FOOT BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETLEY STALL, UNLESS I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN IT MAY CATCH AND START RUNNING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION I ATTEMPT TO TURN AND THE STALLING MAY PUT ME A FEW FEET OUT INTO THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE SHIFT GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WILL EIMMEDIATELY START. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE ENGINE WILL EVER STALL, BUT IT PUTS ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH THE STALLING AND THE CERTAIN POSITION THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I THINK I REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT FORD ALSO HAD SOMEWHAT SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENGINE STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING AND ACCIDENTS HAPPENING. HAS JEEP EVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS SUCH AS WHAT I HAVE? AS IS, I CAN NOT DEPEND ON ENTERING A TRAFFIC PATTERN EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT IF I WILL NEED TO READILY GET INTO THE DESIRED LANE, FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND I'LL GET HIT BY SOMEONE WHO FAILS TO NOTICE THAT I HAVE STALLED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #735666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 1996 WIRING HARNESESS IN ENGINE HAVE CRIMP CONNECTORS COVERED WITH STANDARD OFF THE SHIEF DUCT TAPE . THIS IS FACTORY AND DEALER SAID THIS WAS DONE AT MANUFACTURE. THE TAPE HAS DRY ROTTED AND PROVIDES NO PROTECTION. 4 TIMES WIRES HAVE GROUNDED OUT TWICE CAUSING SMALL FIRES. ALL VEHICLES OF THIS ERA HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND MOST OF THE VEHICLES IN SALVAGE YARDS HAVE EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE FROM THESE CONNECTIONS. I REPAIRED EVERY CONNECTION AND SAVED THE FAILED CONNECTORS FOR EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH PURPOSES.
NHTSA complaint #733043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING CAR, SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM INTERIOR. STOPPED AND SHUT OFF CAR. HAD IT TOWED IN. REPAIR SHOP FOUND BURNED WIRE IN HANDBRAKE AREA. REPAIRED BUT INSIDE OF CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. CAN'T GET RID OF SMELL.
NHTSA complaint #729147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CAR KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN
NHTSA complaint #711911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #544157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP WHEN THE WIRES FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO SMOKE, AND THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTED. DEALER THINKS THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HARNESS WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #834397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #534554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN DRIVE CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE TRUCK WOULD STILL BE IN MOTION, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO KEEP ON GOING WHILE THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #819644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A STOP, VEHICLE BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #805882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, ALSO REPLACED 3 STARTER RELAY SWITCHES/ 3 ALTERNATORS/ 3 IGNITION SWITCHES/CRUISE CONTROL/WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #987219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, ALSO REPLACED 3 STARTER RELAY SWITCHES/ 3 ALTERNATORS/ 3 IGNITION SWITCHES/CRUISE CONTROL/WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #987219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, ALSO REPLACED 3 STARTER RELAY SWITCHES/ 3 ALTERNATORS/ 3 IGNITION SWITCHES/CRUISE CONTROL/WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #987219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, ALSO REPLACED 3 STARTER RELAY SWITCHES/ 3 ALTERNATORS/ 3 IGNITION SWITCHES/CRUISE CONTROL/WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #987219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE MOTORHOME THE VEHICLE SEIZED, VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #981344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLES STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING.DEALERSHIP HAS A TSB-185-489 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER TO STOP THE PROBLEM. TT
NHTSA complaint #973801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
INSULATION AROUND BATTERY WIRE CAME LOOSE, THEREFORE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CAME IN CONTACT AND RESULTED IN FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #959759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.