FaultScore

1993 Jeep Cherokee brake problems

160 of the 571 complaints about the 1993 Jeep Cherokee are about the braking system — 28% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 117,610 miles.

F

160

Complaints

11

Crashes

2

Fires

9

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rotor 68 42.5%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 21 13.1%
Foundation Components 16 10.0%
Pads 16 10.0%
Disc 11 6.9%
Pedals AND Linkages 4 2.5%
Caliper 4 2.5%
Rotor 4 2.5%
Master Cylinder 3 1.9%
Wheel Cylinders 3 1.9%

Brakes across every Jeep Cherokee year

1989 119 5.5%
1990 178 8.2%
1991 188 8.7%
1992 51 2.4%
1993 160 7.4%
1994 71 3.3%
1995 95 4.4%
1996 113 5.2%
1997 83 3.8%
1998 101 4.7%
1999 117 5.4%
2000 124 5.7%
2001 64 3.0%
2014 213 9.8%
2015 137 6.3%
2016 104 4.8%
2017 63 2.9%
2018 38 1.8%
2019 110 5.1%
2020 26 1.2%
2021 14 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 230,350 miles OPP, AL Fire

SERVICE BRAKES

I OWN A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOCKED UP ON JULY 4, 2017, WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN, ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING STARTED, WITHOUT ANY HARD BRAKING. THE NEXT DAY THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED. TODAY, 9/28/2017, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER CAR BEING STARTED TO DRIVE TO WORK, A SHIMMY DEVELOPED. WHEN I GOT TO WORK A FEW MILES LATER, THE CALIPER WAS LOCKED AGAIN AND WAS SMOKING. IN 1998, WHILE DRIVING MY FATHER'S 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE (NOT THE SAME ONE I NOW OWN), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED ONTO THE TIRE AND CAUSED A LOT OF SMOKE. I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AT THE TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS WILL GO WRONG WITH OLDER VEHICLES IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BEING USED AND BECOMING WORN, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON POINT OF FAILURE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR THAT STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE STILL RELATIVELY NEW. BRAKE PROBLEMS ARE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THING TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, SO I FEEL THIS MERITS BEING REPORTED BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN STRONG AND RELIABLE, AND I STILL SEE SO MANY OF THEM OUT ON THE HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS. I CLICKED "NEXT" AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, "WAS THERE A FIRE?" I AM GOING TO CLICK YES BECAUSE THERE WAS A COPIOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE BUT WANT TO CLARIFY HERE THAT THERE WERE NO FLAMES THAT I SAW.

NHTSA complaint #11030321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittson, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

DT: THE OWNER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND FRONT END SHOOK. OWNER CALLED DEALER, WHO STATED VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE REPAIR WAS DONE. THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A WEEK LATER. OWNER KEPT CALLING DEALER. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWER. THEN, OWNER CONTACTED A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO SAID THAT THIS WAS JUST A BAD TRUCK. ABOUT WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING, GOT PULLED OVER AND RECEIVED WARNING ABOUT THE TAIL LIGHTS BEING OUT. THEN IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE TAILLIGHTS. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO PERSONAL MECHANIC, WHO PUT IN A SWITCH, BUT OWNER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SWITCH. A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND GRINDING UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE VIBRATING AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER REPAIRS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED JEEP. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. IN FEBRUARY THE OIL PLUG CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER'S MECHANIC AND THE JEEP DEALERSHIP PAID FOR THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10130268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,610 miles Hulbert, OK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN BACK. IT IS LOCKED IN PLACE. I HAVE TO PULL THE WIRE OFF THE DISTRIBUTOR & THE BATTERY CABLE TO KILL IT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON. ALSO, THE HEATER, WS WIPERS & RADIO WILL NOT COME ON. MY BRAKE PEDAL STAYS DOWN CONSTANTLY, I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY PULL UP ON IT EACH & EVERY TIME (THE LAW HAS STOPPED ME FOR THIS). MY BRAKES MAKE A HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND AT TIMES. I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH ALL LINKING ABS SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10058330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Countryside, IL

PARKING BRAKE

CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE EMERGENCY BRAKE ONCE ITS ON. ALSO THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED OUT. *TS EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON FELL OFF. BRAKE CAN NO LONGER BE DISENGAGED. VEHICLE PARKED AND NOT IN USE.

NHTSA complaint #8023325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakland, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR BROKE/SEPARATED AROUND THE HUB. DRIVER WAS JUST ABOUT TO ENTER INTERSTATE BEFORE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES ROTOR SEPARATION CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #8018473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Berwick, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKES ARE CORRODED. EVERY THOUSAND MILES BRAKES ARE REPLACED, AND THEY ARE WARPED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8003357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, NH Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

VEHICLE WAS LEFT RUNNING WHILE IN PARK WITH HAND BRAKE ENGAGED. SUDDENL VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ABOUT 70FEET BEFORE HITTING A UTILITY POLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #897421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinniti, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

DISC BRAKE ROTORS; VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A CHILD BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP.*AK THE BROKEN DISC BRAKE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON DISC BRAKE BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE LIST.

NHTSA complaint #889911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND PADS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY RECALL 98V005. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #557008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Folson, LA Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE DROVE OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE STILL TRAVELED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TREE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK BRAKES WERE WORKING PERFECTLY BUT THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE, OVER POWERING RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #870596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hemps, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (99V-340) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER WAS DENIED FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR AND IS REQUESTING ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #553922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfiel, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (99V-340) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #552971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Blaire, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 99V340000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 747/ FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER STATED EARLIEST DATE THAT HE COULD SERVICE VEHICLE WAS SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT THE THAT DEALER'S LOCATION.

NHTSA complaint #867306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greencastle, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES, AND PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #863974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greencastle, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES, AND PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #863974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Isla, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILED THREE TIMES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-340. NLM

NHTSA complaint #551887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Isla, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILED THREE TIMES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-340. NLM

NHTSA complaint #551887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Segundo, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON SIDE STREET WHEN SHE JAMMED BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON APPLYING BRAKES, THEY MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF THE BRAKES, AND THEY WERE FINE. ALSO, THERE WAS A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE GLASS WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, THROWING GLASS INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #861273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aliquippa, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

EA 99 01, 4/BRAKE ROTOR DISC/HUB: ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HUB SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS ARM ASSEMBLY DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #860476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mccook, NE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (99V-340). *MJS

NHTSA complaint #550518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Randolph, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-340). *MJS

NHTSA complaint #551000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Barton, VT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #720453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (99V-340) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO BRAKES, REQUIRED ADDITIONAL COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #550398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belairr, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH CONSUMER COULD HEAR A NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL ON THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #855524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belairr, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH CONSUMER COULD HEAR A NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL ON THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #855524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Cant, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #533078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cicero, IL 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WAS GOING ON OFF RAMP WHEN THE WEBBING SEPARATED FROM DISC HUB. THE RING ON HUB BROKE ON RIGHT & LEFT FRONT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE NOT TO STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE AFTER BRAKES APPLIED. WHEELS WOULD VIBRATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPAIRED PROBLEM. OWNER HAS ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #853959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingwood, TX Crash 3 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE CAUSING ACCIDENT; MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHECKED BY INSPECTOR AND FOUND TO HAVE LEAK THAT ALLOWED ALL FLUID TO ESCAPE WITHOUT ANY WARNING

NHTSA complaint #711913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

ROTOR SEPARATED FROM HUB

NHTSA complaint #709703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1993 Jeep Cherokee problems

← Full 1993 Jeep Cherokee report