1991 Jeep Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability

297 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1991 Jeep Cherokee, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 9/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 174,735 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1991 Jeep Cherokee has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

297Complaints
9/100Trouble index
9Recalls

Better year

Where 1991 sits among all Cherokee years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 186 complaints (63%) · typically ~174,735 miles
“Consumer is not satisfied with recall repair (#702) abs system, dealership problem. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 Cherokee
Engine 23 complaints (8%)
Seat belts 16 complaints (5%)
Transmission & drivetrain 14 complaints (5%)
Electrical 14 complaints (5%)
Speed control 12 complaints (4%)

Recalls (9)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E026000 2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 98V005000 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 97I002000 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. DRIVERS CAN MISTAKENLY…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 96V260000 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 91V063000 1991

IMPROPER INSERTION/CRIMPING OF THE HOSE-TO-END FITTINGS OF THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CAN CAUSE DETACHMENT OF THE HOSE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM, AND DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.

Fix: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 91V023000 1991

IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRAKE FLUID TUBE MAY ALLOW THE TUBE TO CONTACT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DAMAGING THE TUBE.

Fix: REPOSITION BRAKE TUBE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH STEERING SHAFT; ALSO, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED BRAKE TUBES.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 90V206000 1990

SUSPENSION JOUNCE BUMPER COULD CONTACT LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE TUBE WHEN SUSPENSION IS AT FULL JOUNCE (BOUNCE).

Fix: REPLACE LEFT REAR BRAKE TUBE WITH TUBE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH BUMPER.

Federal defect investigations

SUDDEN ACCELERATION DP02005 opened 2002, closed 2002
BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPARATION EA97001 opened 1997, closed 1998

Led to recall campaign 98V005000.

BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPARATION PE96053 opened 1996, closed 1997
VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION DP95007 opened 1995, closed 1995
REAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION PE95049 opened 1995, closed 1996
DRIVESHAFT/UNIV.JOINT FAIL PE93057 opened 1993, closed 1993

Technical service bulletins

17 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 1991 Jeep Cherokee. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1991 Cherokee TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 51 in 19952022

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1991 Jeep Cherokee reliable?

The 1991 Jeep Cherokee drew 297 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 9/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).

What are the most common 1991 Jeep Cherokee problems?

The top reported problems for the 1991 Jeep Cherokee are brakes & stability (186 complaints), engine (23), and seat belts (16).

Does the 1991 Jeep Cherokee have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 1991 Jeep Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1990 Cherokee All Cherokee years 1992 Cherokee →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.