FaultScore

1990 Jeep Cherokee engine problems

35 of the 368 complaints about the 1990 Jeep Cherokee are about the engine — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 190,000 miles.

C

35

Complaints

0

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 12 34.3%
Cooling System 5 14.3%
Engine 4 11.4%
Radiator Assembly 3 8.6%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 3 8.6%
Exhaust System 2 5.7%
Emission Control 2 5.7%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 2 5.7%
FAN 1 2.9%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 2.9%

Engine & Cooling across every Jeep Cherokee year

1989 21 0.7%
1990 35 1.2%
1991 23 0.8%
1992 11 0.4%
1993 40 1.4%
1994 87 3.0%
1995 151 5.3%
1996 64 2.2%
1997 54 1.9%
1998 35 1.2%
1999 44 1.5%
2000 82 2.9%
2001 51 1.8%
2014 523 18.2%
2015 375 13.1%
2016 321 11.2%
2017 263 9.2%
2018 159 5.5%
2019 465 16.2%
2020 42 1.5%
2021 25 0.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 200,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DRIVING OVER A NORMAL POT-HOLE ON A CITY STREET, THE THREE BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK SHEARED OFF. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON WWW.NAXJA.ORG ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS IS IN FACT A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4.0L EQUIPPED, MANUAL TRANSMISSION JEEP XJ CHEROKEES. VEHICLE IS NOT IN A DRIVEABLE STATE PRESENTLY DUE TO THIS FAILURE. WILL HAVE TO DRILL OUT OLD BROKEN BOLT STUDS, REPLACE STUDS, AND INSPECT FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10126308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Dallas, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WITHOUT WARNING OUR 1990 JEEP FUEL INJECTORS STARTED LEAKING/SPRAYING GAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE OR POSSIBLY EVEN EXPLODE DUE TO ALL THE GASOLINE THE WAS BEING LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #10002906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT.

NHTSA complaint #563902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT.

NHTSA complaint #563902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MY PROBLEM MATCHES NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 90V177000 EXACTLY, INCLUDING MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, ACCORDING TO MY VIN, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED.

NHTSA complaint #721712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Holl, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS COMPONENT FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #547228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Asheville, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS AT ALL SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND PARKED ON HILLS. SHUTS OFF AT IDLE, SHUTTING DOWN MOTOR/POWER STEERING/BRAKES, ETC. SHUTS OFF AND RESTARTS WHEN AT SPEED, CAUSING SEVERE BUCKING/JERKING.

NHTSA complaint #706514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurence Harbor, NJ

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

MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE FAILED. MJS.

NHTSA complaint #545303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurence Harbor, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THERMOSTAT, FAN CLUTCH AND GASKET FAILED. MJS.

NHTSA complaint #545303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurence Harbor, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THERMOSTAT, FAN CLUTCH AND GASKET FAILED. MJS.

NHTSA complaint #545303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurence Harbor, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

THERMOSTAT, FAN CLUTCH AND GASKET FAILED. MJS.

NHTSA complaint #545303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurence Harbor, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northbrook, IL

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

MUFFLER FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #545177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilm, DE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE EXHAUST HAS A CONTINUAL RATTLE AT IDLE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ,IT JUST STARTED ONE DAY AND I CAN NOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON WHAT IT IS OR IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS I NEED TO KNOW IF IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. THANK YOU. *K

NHTSA complaint #701106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wild Rose, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

NHTSA complaint #702378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scottsdale, AZ Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CHEROKEE BURNED COMPLETELY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LINE LEAK OR A FUEL INJECTOR LEAK. THE FIREWALL PROTECTED THE PASSENGERS UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #833258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Otisville, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. FIRE INSPECTOR DISCOVERED FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VIN.# WILL BE ADDED AT LATER TIME.

NHTSA complaint #829057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sherman Oaks, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

AFTER DRIVING ALL DAY (A COUPLE HOURS) VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. USUALLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #827691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

DES Moines, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #524406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE WAS ON FIRE CAUSING THE WHEEL AREA AND ENGINE TO COMPLETELY BURN. CONSUMER BURNED HANDS AND GOT SMOKE IN LUNGS.

NHTSA complaint #821012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kaneohe, HI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #518517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE ROTORS. EXPANSION TANK EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #516229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Williamsbu, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OIL PRESSURE SENDER SWITCH FAILED, ALSO ENGINE STALLS.

NHTSA complaint #518559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEFECTIVE REAR ENGINE SEAL.

NHTSA complaint #518068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laguna Niguel, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO REASON, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA complaint #807717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bismarck, ND

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE MOTOR MOUNT CAME LOOSE, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #801215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #601557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #601557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Desert HOT, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VEHICLE OVERHEATS CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #502758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport BE, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

BELTS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #484984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Jeep Cherokee problems

← Full 1990 Jeep Cherokee report