FaultScore

1994 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems

40 of the 618 complaints about the 1994 Jeep Cherokee are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 55,000 miles.

F

40

Complaints

9

Crashes

2

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 11 27.5%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 6 15.0%
Power Train 4 10.0%
Manual Transmission 4 10.0%
Differential Unit 4 10.0%
Column Shift 3 7.5%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 3 7.5%
Floor Shift 2 5.0%
Torque Converter 1 2.5%
Axle Assembly 1 2.5%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Jeep Cherokee year

1990 17 0.3%
1991 14 0.3%
1992 16 0.3%
1993 50 0.9%
1994 40 0.7%
1995 48 0.9%
1996 66 1.2%
1997 51 0.9%
1998 74 1.3%
1999 58 1.0%
2000 32 0.6%
2001 24 0.4%
2014 1,465 26.3%
2015 1,001 18.0%
2016 630 11.3%
2017 647 11.6%
2018 290 5.2%
2019 783 14.0%
2020 159 2.9%
2021 86 1.5%
2022 25 0.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Springfield, WV

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) AND 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10735186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Rocky Face, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR DECCELERATING. REAR COLLISION AND SIDE IMPACT COLLISIONS HAVE BEEN NARROWLY AVOIDED. HAVE TRIED 4 TIMES TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT NO ONE HAS MADE A SOLUTION. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE HAD NEITHER OFFERED ADVICE NOR INTEREST IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10041558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THE FLOOR SHIFTER. IT HAD ACTUALLY MADE IT WORSE ON THE SHIFTER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HAD A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *AK IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PLACE THE SHIFTER FROM REVERSE INTO PARK AND WOULD END UP IN NEUTRAL. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10024273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,650 miles Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN

THE GEAR SHIFT BOX FAILED AND CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FALL OUT THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles NEW Bedford, MA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT MAKES A "CREAKING" NOISE AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 20 MILES. THE NOISE IS MOST EVIDENT ON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TURNING (EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT) AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSALS AND INSPECTED THE CV JOINT IN AN EFFORT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL REPLACED, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FLUID AT A VERY SLOW RATE SINCE IT WAS REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC. I HAD TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN IT EMANATES FROM THE AREA OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65,000 MILES ON IT, A TRANSFER CASE SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH MILEAGE SO LOW.

NHTSA complaint #10014515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Pensacola, FL

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED AND DID NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10009299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fortbliss, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Montville, OH Fire

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE TRAVELING THE CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FIRE WAS STARTED FROM THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE GEAR TRANSFER CASE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT (10-90-118)

NHTSA complaint #565795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Crash

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

I WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PARKING DEPARTMENT. WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE A JEEP CHEROKEE WAS ROLLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PARKED ON A UPSLOPED RAMP, AND THEN BEGAN TO SLOWLY ROLL BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE ROLLOUT WAS VERY GRADUAL. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PLACING BRICKS BEHIND THE TIRES. WHEN THE OWNER CAME TO GET HIS VEHICLE, I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM SINCE HE SPOKE SPANISH.

NHTSA complaint #754310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roswell, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #562306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albany, MO Crash

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

WHILING IDLING VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE/ WENT OUT OF CONTROL, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.VEHICLE SOUNDED AS THOUGH GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEELS LOCKED.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK POLICE REPORT STATES THAT CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT WORK. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #893672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grifton, NC Crash

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

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF GARAGE AREA. AFTER VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, IT SLIPPED INTO A REVERSE GEAR AND BACKED OUT INTO THE STREET. DRIVERSIDE DOOR WAS OPENED, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #893690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detriot, MI Crash 1 injured

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

CONSUMER GOT IN VEHICLE, TURNED IT ON AND VEHICLE REVVED BACKWARD AND IT STARTED SPINNING AROUND. VEHICLE WAS CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT, BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKE LOCK CABLE SHIFTED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cherry Hill, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION: NO PRIOR PROBLEM. TOTAL FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING REQUIRED TOTAL REBUILT INCLUDING OVERDRIVE GEARS. FUEL PUMP: INTERMITTENT STALL ISSUE OVER PAST 9 MONTHS. ENGINE STALLS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING ANYWHERE FROM IDLE TO 70 MPH. APPEARS PROBLEM OCCURS DUE TO PLASTIC FUEL TANK (?).

NHTSA complaint #741262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Claymont, DE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT @ $2,344.68. I DO NOT TOW. ON 06/19/00 (94290) TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. I WAS CHARGED $115.75 TO REPLACE ANTI DRAIN BACK VALVE. ON 11/14/00 (101,000) TRANS NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. SERVICE MANAGER SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING FREE CHRYSLER OR HE WILL DO. I AM STUCK. HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #737030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goldsboro, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 75 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILED AND RPMS WENT UP. ENGINE WAS RACING. ALSO, NOTICED THAT THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON PRIOR TO ACCELERATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #856078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE TIRE WENT FLAT. PLACED THE SPARE TIRE ON VEHICLE, WHICH WAS P22570R/15. THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE 24570R/15. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OVERHEATED & FAILED DUE TO HAVING A SMALLER TIRE ON VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.

NHTSA complaint #852133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stamford, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

TRANSFER CASE VISCOUS COUPLING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #850559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Troy, NY

POWER TRAIN

VISCUS COUPLER FAILURE PARTS ARE A NATIONAL BACKORDER 3MONTH WAITING PERIOD. IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS? IF THIS PART SHOULD FAIL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LOSS OF DRIVETRAIN, LOCKUP OF DRIVETRAIN COULD CAUSE DEADLY ACCIDENTS. HOW CAN THEY HAVE A THREE MONTH NATIONAL BACKORDER, WITHOUT THIS BEING A MAJOR DEFECT!

NHTSA complaint #709043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, UT

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE LOSS OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL(AFTER SPARE TIRE CHANGED). DEALER NOTIFIED AND MADE REPAIRS. AFTER 28 MILES, CONDITION REOCCURR DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO SPARE TIRE. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #841131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Lambert, 00

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

LOUD NOISE UPON BREAKING, CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION COMPRESSING AND FORCING THE DRIVESHAFT CV JOINTS TO BIND WHILE ENTERING THE TRANSFER CASE.

NHTSA complaint #540500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

VEHICLE WAS BACKED DOWN DRIVEWAY, STOPPED THEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. DRIVER HEARD POPPING NOISE, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO GARAGE, DEALER STATES THAT PINION GEAR IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BROKEN, PINION GEAR WAS ALL SHRAPNEL. BECAUSE CASING WAS BROKEN, REAR AXLE MUST BE REPLACED. THIS MAJOR COMPONENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 31,000+ MILES.

NHTSA complaint #537094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tahoe City, CA Fire

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING OIL. SMELLED SMOKE & PULLED OVER. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE & CHECKED. NOTICED FLAMES NEAR REAR. MOVED AWAY & IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. INSURANCE INSPECTOR IS LOOKING AT IT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSUMED IT WAS IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

NHTSA complaint #820274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warwick, RI 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

UPON SHIFTING TODRIVE GEAR FROM A STOPPED POSITION, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.

NHTSA complaint #521009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olympic Valley, CA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OWNER SHIFTED GEAR TO PARK, TURNED OFF IGNITION, REMOVED KEY, EXITED VEHICLE, PRESSED SECURITY REMOTE CONTROL TO LOCK DOORS, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, ROLLED OFF EMBANKMENT INTO NEIGHBORS'S HOUSE, UNOCCUPIED, CAUSE NOT DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #816839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franktown, CO 1 injured

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

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #811967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Fran, KY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

REAR TRANSMISSION SEALS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #513042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Fran, KY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #513042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Fran, KY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REBUILT/VALVE BODY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #513042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morgantown, WV

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN IT IS COLD IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Jeep Cherokee problems

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