FaultScore

1996 Jeep Cherokee airbag problems

26 of the 584 complaints about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee are about the airbag system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.

F

26

Complaints

21

Crashes

0

Fires

12

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 19 73.1%
AIR Bags 4 15.4%
Side/Window 2 7.7%
On-Off Switch Assembly 1 3.8%

Airbags across every Jeep Cherokee year

1995 43 9.8%
1996 26 5.9%
1997 29 6.6%
1998 52 11.9%
1999 38 8.7%
2000 26 5.9%
2001 21 4.8%
2014 48 11.0%
2015 41 9.4%
2016 30 6.8%
2017 26 5.9%
2018 16 3.7%
2019 42 9.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Beaumont, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A COMPLETE STOP, A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A FOREGOING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK LOCATION COULD BE A GREATER DANGER IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REAR END CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA complaint #10519511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Minor Hill, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISON WITH HIS JEEP AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE ALSO STATES SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND HIT A TREE.

NHTSA complaint #10001078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethlehe, CT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAG SEVERLY DAMAGED MY RIGHT EYE. I HAD SEAT BELT ON, SEAT WAS UPRIGHT. NO OTHER INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #750920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandview, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CAR HYDROPLANED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. LUCKILY THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE OF THE JEEP POPPED OFF ON IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT. FIRST DEFECT: BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW OF THE LIFTGATE. SECOND DEFECT: AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CAN'T GIVE TRUE ESTIMATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SINCE ALL MEDICAL BILLS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY HEALTH PROVIDERS. $ 5,412 WORTH OF PERSONAL PROPERTY (JEWELRY AND OTHER) LOST DURING IMPACT TO THE EMBANKMENT.

NHTSA complaint #737653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, MS Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #876209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Sterling, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND DID NOT STOP. VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER DID NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY RECALL 0013600 ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #863788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White City, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #857970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richardson, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

JEEP WAS STRUCK ON PASSENGERS SIDE, JEEP STRUCK ANOTHER TRUCK HEAD-ON, HITTING MORE OF THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE, CAUSING HOOD DAMAGE/BROKEN WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVERS GEARS TO COME OUT. DRIVER BROKE STERNUM IN TWO PLACES DUE TO SAFETY BELT NOT WORKING AND AIRBAGS NOT COMING OUT. JEEP WAS TOTALLED OUT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R16 )

NHTSA complaint #715813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER REARENED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A 35-45 MPH IMPACT WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SAFETY A HAZARD. VEHICLE SUSTAINED $7,000 OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALONE.

NHTSA complaint #850728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shumway, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HIT A BOAT BEING TOWED AT ABOUT 50 MPH, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE SECOND CRASH THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD, AND AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. BODYSHOP HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK

NHTSA complaint #838159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynchburg, VA

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

RE: FOLLOW-UP LETTER FROM FRANK SEALES, JR., CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA, DATED4/15/99. MY 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE IS NOT LISTED AS HAVING AN AVAILABLE AIRBAG SWITCH. FURTHERMORE, AFTER SCANNING THE LIST OF FIVE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES, I FOUND NO CHRYSLER CORPORATION DEALERS LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #706071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Timberlake, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WIFE IS 4 FEET TALL AND CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT SITTING CLOSER THAN 10 INCHES TO THE WHEEL. AFRAID DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MAY EXPLODE, CAUSING INJURY TO WIFE. WANTS TO INSTALL THE DISCONNECT SWITCH. CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY OF SHORT PERSON AND AIR BAG; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. ALSO, CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY OF SHORT PERSON AND AIR BAG; POSTED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #780231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON A MINOR IMPACT(ABOUT 2MPH), ALSO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, FORCE OF IMPACT RESULTED IN BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, MULTIPLE FRACTURES.

NHTSA complaint #537390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT Crash 2 injured 1 killed

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FIRST INSTANCE, WHILE DRIVING SLIPPED ON ICE, HIT HEAD FIRST INTO GUARD RAIL, DRIVER'S AIR FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED 3 CRUSHED DISCS IN BACK/BROKEN FINGER. IN SECOND INSTANCE, WHILE DRIVING AT 57 MPH, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIR BAG, DISTRACTED DRIVER, CAUSING A MAJOR COLLISION. PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN NECK AND DIED.

NHTSA complaint #819310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vacaville, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING 30MPH STARTED APPLYING (ABS) BRAKES SLOWLY; VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW UP; BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR; VEHICLE CONTINUED ON. TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE; HIT CEMENT DIVIDER IN HWY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TOOK TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #812794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, 00

AIR BAGS

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #515927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palenstine, TX Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT A TRAILER. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #811422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brigham City, UT 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #810732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

King, NC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN GOING THROUGH INTERSECTION ABOUT (15) MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, TOTALLING THE RIGHT FRONT END OF VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #810527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

PASSIVE RESTRAINTS, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH AND VEHICLE FROM OPPOSITE SIDE OF HGW. HITVEHICLE ONE HEAD-ON. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN, CHRYSLER SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT VEHICLE, HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM.

NHTSA complaint #810497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hartselle, AL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVLEING 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER WAS IN THE RECLINING POSITION WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND THE AIR BAG CAUSING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT'S LEGS.

NHTSA complaint #807120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Muscatine, IA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA complaint #806826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WNT INTO RAVINE FRONT FIRST, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #802752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredericksbu, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 55MPH, DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #984056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marietta, GA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIR BAG UNIT LIGHT STAYS ON. TT

NHTSA complaint #979055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plano, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN APPLY THE BRAKE IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD .

NHTSA complaint #977906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Jeep Cherokee problems

← Full 1996 Jeep Cherokee report