51 of the 584 complaints about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee are about the body and structure — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 133,099 miles.
51
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVERS DOOR UPPER HINGE RUSTED WHERE WELDED TO BODY AND SEPARATED FROM BODY . DOOR IS ONLY HELD ON BY LOWER HINGE.
NHTSA complaint #10852849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
SEVERE RUST ALL OVER THE BODY BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE FRAME. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENTS FAIL AND CRACK, NOW TAKING IN WATER THROUGH CORNERS OF THE ROOF THROUGH RUST HOLES. PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME LIKELY TO SEVER UNDER FURTHER DRIVING. RUST ON THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE CREATED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. PART WAS REPLACED, NO PICTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10810825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL IN AUGUST, 2013 RECALL NO. N45/NHTSA 13V-252. NO FOLLOW UP. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10626574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , STRUCTURE) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN JUNE OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE APRIL OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10576935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO DROP THREE INCHES. WAS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10348616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. IT IS A 2-DOOR VEHICLE WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE ENGINE MOUNT STUDS SHEARED OFF BETWEEN THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP CURED THE ISSUE. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE ON THE BAY BRIDGE BETWEEN OAKLAND, CA AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA. THE SECOND EVENT TOOK PLACE ON A BUSY STREET IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. I DROVE OVER AN AREA THAT LOOKED LIKE THE CITY HAD DONE SOME STREET WORK AND HAD FILLED THE AREA BACK IN WITH ASPHALT. THE DIVET FROM THIS WORK WAS INSIGNIFICANT AND CREATED A FEW INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD STREET CONCRETE AND THE NEW ASPHALT FILL AND THERE WAS NO EDGES. THE REPAIR WORK WAS CURVED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. THE BOLTS SHEERED OFF ON THE RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS VEHICLE IS HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE SHIFT CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 3RD - 5TH GEAR AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE IS STOCK AND NO AFTERMARKET ADD-ONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OR INFERIOR PARTS WERE USED.
NHTSA complaint #10231709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT ONLY ONE OF FOUR RECALLS WERE FOUND IN THEIR SYSTEM THAT WERE COMPARABLE TO THEIR RECALLS. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP. SHE HAS REPLACED THIS UNIT THREE TIMES, TOTALING $1,000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COSTS AND STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 97V069000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,797. UPDATED 03/06/08.
NHTSA complaint #10211162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT A WATER LEAK IN MY 96 CHEROKEE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM STARTED 1 YEAR AGO AND I HAVE SPENT A OVER $900 TO HAVE IT FIXED BY THE DEALER (ANTWERPEN, BALTIMORE, MD 21228). SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE IN ONE YEAR, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT AND THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT AND FIX IT. IT GOES BACK TO ANTWERPEN ON 4/5 FOR ANOTHER GO AROUND. I CONCEPT IS THEY ARE STALING AND WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY ON THE 1ST REPAIR TO RUN OUT, BUT SORRY THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, EVEN IT I HAVE TO TAKE IT THERE WEEKLY UNTIL SOMEBODY FIXES IT PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10064380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
IN 2003 I EXPERIENCE LEAKING WATER FROM UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE IN POURING RAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND FIXED FOR $766. NOW IN MARCH 2004, JUST BEFORE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE FIRST FIX RUNS OUT THE LEAK IS BACK. VEHICLE WENT TO DEALER, THEY SAY IT IS NOW LEAKING SOME WHERE ELSE (AROUND THE DRIVER'S DOOR,DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY I AM GETTING WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) FIX GASKETS FOR $220. WAITING FOR NEXT LEAK, WHICH I AM WILL COME. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX THE SECOND LEAK UNDER THE FIRST WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10064100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD WATER LEAKAGE FROM UNDER THE DASH ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR SOAKING EVERYTHING. THE OCCURENCE WAS 5/2/03, PROBLEM FIXED AT DEALER (ANTWERPEN, BALTIMORE) FOR $766. NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING. I AM DUE TO TAKE IIT IN NEXT WEEK, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO BET THE PROBLEM WILL BE DIAGNOISED AS LEAKING IN A DIFFERENT PLACE SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO HONOR THE ORGINIAL REPAIR WARRANTY. THIS IS ALMOST A GIVEN. FIRST OF ALL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT ALL. THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS MADE. I HAVE ALSO READ SEVERAL COMPLIANTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND JEEP/CHRYSLER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT CALL THIS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ALL EXPECIALLY WHEN IT IS THE SECOND TIME AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10062530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AND WITH NO WARNING HOOD FLEW OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10039666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO DROP THREE INCHES.
NHTSA complaint #10038391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGE HAS REPEATEDLY BROKEN AWAY FROM FRAME AT TACK WELD MAKING USE OF DRIVER'S DOOR IMPOSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10036984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE VEHICLES DOOR HINGES SEPARATED FROM THE WELDS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER DOOR HINGES ARE WEARING OUT. IT IS HARD FOR DOOR TO STAY CLOSED/ CAN OPEN DOOR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8018199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE IS WEARING OUT, AND IT IS HARD TO SHUT DOOR. DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8017634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING SUNROOF AND FRAME CAME OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8014545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
HINGES ON DRIVER'S DOOR ARE RUSTED, TOP HINGE IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #8009899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE ADJUSTMENT SLIDE. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO TILT BACK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE METAL IS TORN FROM AROUND THE BOLT. THE BOLT IS STILL INTACT. THE UPPER LEFT DOOR HINGE IS ALSO COMING LOOSE FROM THE BODY. THE WELD THAT SECURES THE HINGE TO THE BODY IS FAILING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER (NOT THE ONE WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. THE FELLOW AT THE BODY SHOP INFORMED ME HE HAS SEEN QUITE A FEW DOOR HINGE FAILURES. HE EVEN HAD A CHEROKEE IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID THE SEAT FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON. I FEEL THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE PART OF THE COST OF REPAIR, IF NOT FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. THE SEAT IN PARTICULAR IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THE OTHER SIDE BREAKS, I'LL BE LAYING DOWN TRYING TO DRIVE!
NHTSA complaint #759502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD TAKE PHOTO AND REFER TO OEM, CONTACTED LOCAL GARAGE PER DEALERSHIP REFERENCE TO REPAIR AND GARAGE SAID THEY HAVE FIX 3-4 OF THIS TYPE FAILURE. THE DOOR WOULD FALL OFF IF NOT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #758897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE IS RUSTED UNDERBODY WHICH CAN CAUSE BRAKE PROBLEMS, DEALER SPRAYED UNDERBODY WITH COATING, BUT BRAKE PROBLEMS STILL OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #563999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE IS RUSTED UNDERBODY WHICH CAN CAUSE BRAKE PROBLEMS, DEALER SPRAYED UNDERBODY WITH COATING, BUT BRAKE PROBLEMS STILL OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #563999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TOP HINGE ON DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE, DOOR WAS HANGING BY BOTTOM HINGE.
NHTSA complaint #893657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE CLOSING DOOR NOTICED THAT DOOR WAS UNATTACHED FROM FRAME OR BODY OF VEHICLE, CAUSING DOOR TO HANG OFF, UNABLE TO CLOSE. *AK HINGE BECAME LOOSE WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE AND SOON BECAME COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE FRAME, CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY LIFT DOOR INTO LATCH AND LOCK IT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, CHRYSLER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR SHOPS THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE CLOSING DOOR NOTICED THAT DOOR WAS UNATTACHED FROM FRAME OR BODY OF VEHICLE, CAUSING DOOR TO HANG OFF, UNABLE TO CLOSE. *AK HINGE BECAME LOOSE WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE AND SOON BECAME COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE FRAME, CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY LIFT DOOR INTO LATCH AND LOCK IT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, CHRYSLER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR SHOPS THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TOP HINGE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. SPOT WELD CAME APART, AND ONLY THING THAT HELD DOOR WERE THE SCREWS. BUT BOTTOM HINGE KEPT DOOR UP. DEFECT MAY HAVE CAUSED ENTIRE DOOR TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #887020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE TOP HINGE WELD BROKE AWAY FROM DOOR FRAME!
NHTSA complaint #743207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FLOODING WATER IS ENTERING DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, ICE IS FORMING ON INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK ALL 4 GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES WITH LESS THAN 13000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT RETURN THE CALLS CONCERNING MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED, DEALER IS REQUESTING THAT CONSUMER PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS, LABOR, AND PARTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #884746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER'S DOOR PANELS ON ALL 4 DOORS ARE PEELING. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER FINANCIALLY. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $500.
NHTSA complaint #884298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE TACK WELD THAT HOLDS THE HINGE SIDE OF THE DOOR TO FRAME OF THE JEEP, OVER TIME BECAME LOOSER AND LOOSER. I REALIZED THE DOOR DIDN'T SEEM TO FIT AS TIGHTLY, BUT I DIDN'T APPRECIATE HOW MUCH IT CORRODED UNTIL IT COLLAPSED, TOTALLY SEPARATING THAT SECTION FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE COVERED HINGE IS STILL HOLDING THE DOOR IN PLACE, BUT WITHOUT THE UNCOVERED HINGE BRACING THE DOOR, THE DOOR CLOSES, BUT DURING DRIVING-GUSTS OF WIND CAN SEPARATE THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAMING THE WINDOW FROM THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #740101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.